Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro during the graduation ceremony at the University of Nairobi, where he was conferred M.A. (Economics) degree, September 19, 2025. /EDUMINKiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has urged the government to honour all collective bargaining agreements signed with striking university lecturers.
Lecturers downed their tools on Wednesday, September 17, over three demands: payment of Sh2.73 billion, settlement of Sh8.8 billion arrears from the 2017–21 CBA, and negotiation, registration and implementation of the 2025–29 CBA.
Speaking on Friday at the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in Economics, Nyoro said lecturers were within their legal rights to seek fair remuneration as agreed with the state.
“Our lecturers and professors in Kenya are not remunerated in accordance with their skills and the work they do,” he said.
“They need to be paid much more, and the starting point is to first honour their CBA so that our institutions can continue running uninterrupted.”
Nyoro further called for increased funding to support research and student loans, especially for students from vulnerable backgrounds.
The strike has paralysed learning across 37 public universities and their constituent campuses just weeks after the 2025-26 academic year got underway.
On Wednesday, while officially launching the nationwide strike at Maseno University in Kisumu, Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) secretary general Constantine Wasonga declared that dons would not resume work until all three demands were met in full.
He dismissed the government’s proposals of a two per cent increment and staggered allowances, insisting lecturers deserved the same treatment as teachers, who were awarded between 16 and 32 per cent by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Wasonga also refuted claims by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba that Sh2.73 billion had already been paid out.
He said the only correspondence received was a letter from the SRC stating it would convene to formulate salary review guidelines.
“They can meet while we are on the streets. But let us be clear — this strike will not end unless our three demands are met in toto,” he declared.
