UASU SOUNDS ALARM OVER PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES CRISIS, GIVES GOVERNMENT ONE MONTH TO ACT
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as a deteriorating situation in Kenya’s public university sector, citing stalled salary negotiations, underfunding, staffing shortages, increased reliance on part-time lecturers, retirement-age disputes and challenges at Moi University.
Speaking to the media, UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga called for urgent Government intervention, warning that continued delays could undermine the quality of university education and affect both academic staff and students.
At the centre of the Union’s concerns is the delayed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). UASU says negotiations have not been concluded despite an agreement under the November 2025 Return-to-Work Formula to complete the process before the end of 2025.
The Union says the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and the Government have yet to table a financial counter-proposal.
UASU has therefore given IPUCCF and the Government one month from September 18, 2026, to table a substantive counter-proposal, negotiate, sign and implement the 2025–2029 CBA.
UASU Demands Exchequer Funding
The Union has also raised concerns over the financing of public universities, arguing that salaries for academic staff should be safeguarded through Exchequer funding rather than relying on student fees.
UASU says the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026, does not adequately address the mechanism for remunerating academic staff.
The Union is calling for any legislation on public university financing to include a clear provision protecting the remuneration of academic staff through public funding.
SRC and University CBAs
UASU has further criticised what it says is the failure by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to approve several internal CBAs negotiated between individual universities and UASU chapters.
The Union cited the University of Nairobi’s 2017–2021 CBA, which it says was signed after nine years of negotiations, as an example of the challenges facing university-level labour agreements.
UASU is demanding that SRC establish a practical mechanism for the registration and implementation of signed internal CBAs.
Part-Time Lecturers Raise Concern
The Union has also criticised the growing reliance on part-time academic staff in public universities.
According to UASU, increasing student enrolment has not been matched by recruitment of permanent academic staff, resulting in heavier workloads and greater dependence on insecure employment.
The Union wants part-time teaching policies reviewed and says available permanent positions should be used to absorb qualified part-time lecturers rather than allowing part-time employment to replace established permanent positions.
Dr. Constantine Wasonga,Secretary General,Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU)
Retirement Age and Pension Concerns
UASU has also raised concerns over what it describes as attempts to reduce the retirement age of academic staff in violation of the current CBA.
The Union argues that forcing experienced academics out of permanent employment while universities simultaneously rely on part-time lecturers could worsen staffing challenges.
UASU further linked the retirement-age debate to pension obligations in public universities, claiming that universities collectively owe pension schemes more than KSh20 billion in remittances and related obligations.
Moi University Redundancies
The Union has called on the Government to suspend the redundancy process at Moi University, arguing that the institution faces staffing shortages while also advertising positions for part-time lecturers.
UASU wants an independent staffing audit conducted at the university and is calling for the suspension of all redundancy notices pending the outcome of the audit.
Call for Urgent Government Intervention
UASU says the challenges facing public universities require urgent intervention to protect the quality of higher education, safeguard academic staff welfare and ensure students continue to receive quality education.
The Union maintains that resolving the stalled CBA, addressing university financing, reviewing staffing policies, protecting agreed retirement provisions and addressing the situation at Moi University should be treated as urgent priorities.
Dr. Constantine Wasonga
Secretary General
Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU)
