The Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, has revealed that the government is making a final push to resolve the ongoing strike by university lecturers and staff, with the aim of reaching an agreement as early as next week.
Speaking on Friday during the launch of the National Examination and Assessments season, the CS confirmed that the government had formally engaged the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to guide the negotiation framework for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to Ogamba, fresh negotiation sessions are expected to resume from October 6, with the hope that all parties will come to the table in good faith and end the strike that has paralysed learning in public universities for weeks.
Ogamba urged the striking dons to resume teaching as talks progress, assuring them that their grievances were being addressed within the agreed timelines.
''The negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA are currently at the preparatory stage, and the SRC has issued the negotiating beacons that will guide the process,'' he explained.
He disclosed that the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) had already convened negotiation sessions in September. However, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) failed to attend the initial meetings.
"They have now indicated their willingness to attend upcoming meetings once the SRC guidelines are in place," Ogamba noted.
The CS further pointed out that Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied (KUDHEIHA) had complied with the court directive that suspended the strike and confirmed their readiness to proceed with negotiations.
He appealed to lecturers and staff to prioritise the interests of learners, promising that the government would do its part to meet obligations once the framework is finalised.
Meanwhile, the government seems to be pulling all stops to end the strike that will be entering its third week as rom next week. Just this week, Ogamba revealed that the government will be seeking the court's intervention to address the persisting lecturers' strike.
Appearing before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Ogamba noted that both parties will appear before the Court on October 6 to chart the way forward.
Last month, Ogamba directed striking university lecturers to immediately resume duty or risk disciplinary action, including being cited for contempt of court.
However, lecturers have stood their ground and demanded that the government honours the Ksh7.9 billion from the 2017 and 2021 CBAs, as well as part of the money owed under the 2021–2025 CBA.
