The government has now appealed to striking university staff to resume work and allow negotiations to proceed.
This is after the union leaders rejected a revised offer to clear billions of shillings in salary arrears and pending collective bargaining agreement (CBA) commitments.
In a statement issued Friday, October 31, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government had made “significant concessions” to address concerns raised by lecturers and non-teaching staff, paralysing learning and operations in public universities nationwide.
University staff unions, who have been on strike since mid-September, are demanding settlement of arrears under the 2017–21 CBA, full completion of payments under the 2021–25 CBA, and the commencement of talks on the 2025–29 cycle.
Ogamba said the government had already released Sh4.3 billion as the first tranche of the 2021–2025 CBA and Sh2.73 billion as the second tranche, with the final Sh2.73 billion set for disbursement in the next financial year under the agreed schedule.
On the disputed 2017–21 CBA arrears, unions initially claimed Sh7.94 billion, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) placed the figure at Sh624 million.
The government then commissioned an independent payroll audit to reconcile the figures.
The review put the outstanding balance at Sh7.76 billion.
Following the verification, Treasury approved a phased settlement, initially three instalments, later revised to two, beginning in the current financial year.
However, unions have insisted on a one-off payment, arguing that further delays would disadvantage employees who have already waited years for the funds.
Ogamba, however, maintained that the government has acted in good faith and within fiscal realities.
“The government initially offered to pay the verified balance of Sh7.76 billion in three phases. In further compromise yesterday, the Government offered to pay the verified balance in two phases,” he explained.
But union leaders have strongly rejected the improved offer earlier, insisting they would only return to work once a full lump-sum settlement is committed.
Their position now sets the stage for continued disruption in universities, where students have been sent home or left idle on campuses as learning remains suspended.
According to the CS, the decision by unions to reject the latest proposal was disappointing, given what he described as demonstrable goodwill by the State.
“This position is regrettable given that most of the concerns raised by the unions have been fully addressed, and a roadmap for addressing the remaining ones has been presented with obvious goodwill and compromises on the part of the Government,” Ogamba said.
He appealed to staff to return to work “in the spirit of patriotism and duty of care” to students affected by the prolonged shutdown.
“We therefore appeal to the university staff's sense of patriotism and duty of care to our students, that they resume work in their respective universities and allow opportunity for constructive negotiations towards a mutually acceptable and sustainable solution,” he said.
Ogamba directed the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum under the Federation of Kenya Employers to continue talks with unions.
He also thanked students for their patience and urged them to remain calm.
"We commend students across our public universities for their patience during this period. We urge them to remain patient as we work to ensure operations resume soon,” he added.
With the stalemate deepening, attention now turns to whether unions will soften their position or escalate the standoff, and how soon learning in the country’s biggest higher education institutions can resume.
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