UASU presses for release of Sh7.9 billion in staff arrears

UASU members, led by their Secretary General, Dr. Constantine Wasonga, in solidarity during a presser at Machakos University on October 24, 2025.

Following the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga said the union’s long-standing position had finally been validated.

“The report signed by chairperson Vice Chancellors Committee Professor Daniel Mugendi, Vice Chairperson IPUCCF Joint Negotiation Committee Professor Fred Barasa, Finance officers from the Ministry of Education and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission confirms that IPUCCF technical team has fully agreed with the unions’ position that the outstanding balance owed to staff of public universities is Sh7.9 billion,” Wasonga said.

 The dons addressed the press at Machakos University on Friday.   

 UASU maintained that its members wouldn’t agree to any return-to-work formula unless the full amount is paid.

Wasonga said the union had noted that the report concurs with the union’s position that the outstanding balance owed to university staff is Sh7.95 billion.

 “…affirms the Employment and Labor Relations court judgment on January 15, 2021, which established the total financial obligation under the 2017 – 2021 CBA as 16.57 billion, inclusive of pension, basic salary areas and pension liabilities. Aligned with the Court of Appeal decision of March 2025, agrees with the opinion of Attorney General issued on April 10, 202,5, affirming the enforceability of the CBAs,” he added.

The report, now in the hands of the technical committee tasked with implementing the CBA, was signed by top officials from both the university sector and government.

 Dr. Wasonga emphasized that the findings had resolved the prolonged dispute over the actual amount owed, which had strained relations between academic staff and the government.

He faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for providing inaccurate figures that misled key government departments.

Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Charles Mukwaya echoed the call, blaming government agencies for the ongoing strike. He said their decision to challenge the agreed figures in court had undermined trust and disrupted operations.

The report, endorsed by Vice-Chancellors Committee Chair Prof. Daniel Mugendi and IPUCCF JNC Co-Chair Fred Barasa, reaffirmed a January 2021 ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC), which pegged the total financial obligation under the CBAs at Sh16.57 billion—including salary arrears and pension liabilities.

The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling in March 2025.

 UASU said the report not only supports its position but also exposes SRC’s earlier figures as misleading and harmful to the sector.