UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga and other Officials addressing the Media in Machakos on October 23, 2025. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Ryan Mumo
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has demanded the urgent release of Sh7.9 billion owed to university staff, following the adoption of a report validating the amount as genuine arrears arising from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga said the report by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) had vindicated the union’s long-held position on the disputed arrears.
The report, signed by senior university and government officials, has now been forwarded to the technical committee overseeing the implementation of the CBA.
“The union therefore calls upon IPUCCF, the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury to immediately release the Sh7.9 billion to our members, in compliance with the court judgment and registered CBAs,” Dr. Wasonga said.
He accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of misleading the government by issuing inaccurate figures that distorted the true financial obligation owed to university staff.
“SRC has continued to produce misleading estimates such as Sh624 million, which not only misinformed the Ministry of Education and the Treasury but also destabilized the higher education sector, causing hardship to staff and students,” Dr. Wasonga charged.
His sentiments were echoed by Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Charles Mukwaya, who blamed government agencies for triggering the ongoing strike by contesting agreed figures in court.
“It is the government and its agencies that caused this strike. They must now take responsibility and release the funds,” said Mukwaya.
The report, endorsed by Vice-Chancellors Committee Chairperson Prof. Daniel Mugendi and IPUCCF JNC Co-Chairperson Fred Barasa, reaffirmed a January 15, 2021 Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) ruling that set the total financial obligation under the CBAs at Sh16.57 billion, covering both salary arrears and pension liabilities. The Court of Appeal later upheld that judgment in March 2025.
According to UASU, the latest findings not only confirm the legitimacy of their claims but also expose SRC’s previous estimates as inaccurate and disruptive to industrial harmony in the sector.
“The IPUCCF report aligns with the Attorney-General’s opinion affirming the enforceability of the CBAs and confirms Sh7.9 billion as the correct figure owed to staff,” the union stated.
UASU maintained that its members would not sign any return-to-work formula until the government releases the full amount owed, signaling that the industrial stalemate may persist unless the demand is met.
