Strike to continue as lecturers reject govt offer to pay Ksh7.9B in 2 phases
By Kiprono Keileb, October 31, 2025The standoff between university lecturers and the government has deepened after Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Constantine Wesonga announced that the ongoing strike will not end until all dues are paid in full and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is signed.
Speaking to the press after a national delegates conference held on Friday, October 31, 2025, Wesonga said the government had agreed to pay Ksh7.9 billion in two phases, but the union’s top decision-making organs rejected the proposal.
“Jana tulikuwa na kikao na serikali na walikubali kulipa shilingi 7.9 billion kwa awamu mbili, mimi singekubali because I had to take that offer to the organs of the Union,” Wesonga said, explaining that he presented the offer to the NEC for discussion.
According to Wesonga, the NEC deliberated for over three hours and declined the government’s phased payment plan. “NEC refused and instructed me to convene the National Delegate Conference, which I did today, on Friday, October 31, 2025,” he added
He said the National Delegate Conference (NDC), which he described as the supreme organ of the union, fully endorsed the NEC’s position. “National Delegate Conference, that is the supreme organ of the union, ratified and approved the resolutions of the NEC,” he said.
Earlier, CS Migos Ogamba outlined the reasons behind the lecturers’ strike.
We don’t disseminate knowledge in phases
Wesonga firmly dismissed any possibility of lecturers accepting phased payments, saying the same principle applies to how they teach.
“Nobody in government or anywhere should contemplate that Ksh7.9 billion should be paid in phases. They also instructed me that when they are teaching students, they don’t disseminate knowledge in phases; therefore, nobody should ever imagine that Ksh7.9 billion can be paid in phases,” he stated
He further stated that both the NDC and NEC directed him to ensure that the next CBA for 2025–2029 is completed without delay.
“The NDC and NEC also instructed me that the 2025, 2029 CBA should be negotiated, signed, registered, and implemented,” he said.
Wesonga added that lecturers are determined to end the cycle of strikes once and for all.
“Lecturers have resolved that they don’t want future strikes; they are finishing with the government this year,” he said, adding that the educators will not return to work until all demands are met.
“Let the government and the whole country know that lecturers through organs of the union have resolved in one accord that they will not go back before 7.9 billion is paid in one phase and before 2025-2029 CBA is negotiated, signed, registered and implemented,” Wesonga declared.