Lecturers’ Strike Called Off: Classes To Resume Immediately
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on November 5, 2025
The nationwide strike by public university lecturers has officially ended. The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other university staff unions called off the 49-day industrial action today, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after reaching a deal with the government.
The breakthrough, which will see learning resume immediately across public universities, was sealed with the signing of a return-to-work formula following negotiations with the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, and university councils.
The Sh7.9 Billion Compromise
The core of the strike was the non-payment of Ksh7.9 billion in salary arrears owed under the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). While UASU had initially insisted on a lump-sum payment, the final agreement involves a phased approach:
- Instalment 1: Ksh3.8 billion to be released between November and not later than December 31, 2025.
- Instalment 2: The remaining Ksh3.8 billion to be settled by July 2026.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga confirmed the agreement, noting that the union was satisfied with securing the entire owed amount, despite the phased payment schedule.
The National Treasury defended the instalment plan, with Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi citing the government’s constrained fiscal space as the reason a one-time payment was not feasible.
What’s Next for Lecturers and Students?
The signed agreement includes two key commitments:
- CBA Negotiations: The parties have agreed to conclude the negotiations for the subsequent 2025–2029 CBA within the next 30 days.
- No Victimization: UASU confirmed that the return-to-work formula guarantees that no lecturer or staff member will face disciplinary action or victimization for participating in the industrial action.
The immediate consequence is that students, who have been out of class for nearly two months, can now look forward to the resumption of their academic calendar. Universities are expected to immediately establish plans to recover the teaching and learning time lost during the strike.
