University students will remain at home longer after talks between the government and lecturers’ unions collapsed without a deal to end the ongoing nationwide strike.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) reportedly rejected a Ksh12 billion government offer during negotiations on Monday, October 12.
The unions insist that the government must address specific grievances raised by lecturers instead of concentrating solely on the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga dismissed the proposed amount as inadequate, maintaining that the government should fully implement the agreement.
"The counteroffer from the government is awfully inadequate, and we have rejected it in total," Wasonga stated.
The latest development marks the second failed round of negotiations since lecturers launched the nationwide strike on Friday, October 2.
The industrial action stems from the government's failure to implement the 2025-2029 CBA, which has become the central point of contention between the two sides.
Wasonga has also accused university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury of failing to honour the Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025.
UASU further claims that the government has yet to present a financial counter-proposal for the 2025-2029 CBA, despite negotiations having been underway since last year.
The unions' position raises further uncertainty over when learning will resume in public universities, as students continue to bear the consequences of the prolonged dispute.
Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba had earlier urged striking lecturers to return to work, assuring them that their concerns were being addressed.
In a statement issued on October 5, Ogamba maintained that the government had settled outstanding arrears under previous CBAs, covering the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 agreements.
"The government has committed to safeguarding the welfare of all our lecturers and has demonstrated this commitment through action. As we speak today, all arrears under the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs have been cleared," Ogamba stated.
