National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula with UASU and KUSU officialsNational Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on university staff unions to suspend their ongoing nationwide strike and return to the negotiating table in order to resolve outstanding issues.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday after meeting officials from the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), the Speaker acknowledged the unions’ concerns regarding the government’s failure to fully implement previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The Speaker urged the unions to consider the impact of the strike on students, many of whom are preparing for end-of-semester examinations.
“I encouraged them to return to class, give negotiations a chance, and allow Parliament to play its rightful role in mediating and finding lasting solutions in the best interests of all stakeholders in higher education,” he added.
The strike, which began on September 17, has affected operations in all 39 public universities across the country, with lectures, examinations, and research activities brought to a halt.
The unions are demanding the payment of salary arrears amounting to Sh11.53 billion, citing Sh2.73 billion owed under the second phase of the 2021–2025 CBA and Sh8.8 billion from the 2017–2021 CBA.
They are also pushing for the negotiation and registration of a new 2025–2029 agreement.
The unions have accused the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) of acting in bad faith and ignoring a 2021 court order requiring the government and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to fully fund the 2017–2021 CBA.
Wetang’ula responded by reminding the union officials that Parliament offers a neutral avenue for addressing such matters.
“I reminded the union leaders that Parliament remains a key institution for addressing such concerns and advised them to make use of the House by formally presenting their petitions, provided the matter is not before any court of law,” he said.
The Speaker assured the officials that their petitions would be processed by the Office of the Clerk and tabled before the House early next week.
He pledged to request the Public Petitions Committee to prioritise the matter and expedite its consideration.
According to Wetang’ula, the committee will give both the unions and government representatives a chance to be heard.
“The committee will invite the petitioners to present their submissions and will also summon top officials from the Ministry of Education, including the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, to respond to the issues raised,” he explained.
The strike, now in its second week, continues to raise concerns among students, parents, and university administrators over the continuity of the academic calendar.
Speaker Wetang’ula’s intervention is aimed at restoring calm and encouraging structured dialogue between the parties involved.
