The stand-off between university lecturers and the government will move to the courts next week as the strike disrupting public universities enters its third week.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told senators on Wednesday that both sides will appear before the courts on 6 October to seek a way forward.

He admitted that talks were ongoing but accused the lecturers of lacking sincerity in their demands. “The lecturers are on strike because of three different issues arising from three different CBAs. They raised an issue with the 2017/2021 CBA,” Ogamba said.

According to the CS, the government has already implemented the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in full. The stalemate, he explained, lies in the disputed 2017–2021 CBA, where the lecturers are pushing for what they say is an outstanding KSh7.9 billion.

“From the CBA, there is a question being asked about how much is the outstanding balance between what the union is asking for and what the government says is owed to the lecturers,” he added.

Ogamba also reminded lawmakers that the courts had earlier issued an injunction stopping the strike and ordered both parties to verify the figures. That order was ignored, forcing the case back to court.

Union Pushback

The government’s position was sharply rejected by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), which insists it will not back down until its members are paid.

Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, UASU National Chairperson Grace Nyongesa dismissed claims of ongoing talks. “We shall remain outside until the issues we raised are addressed. There are no negotiations that are currently underway,” she said.

The union has also demanded that the 2021–2025 CBA be fully implemented before negotiations for the 2025–2029 agreement begin.

Paralysed Learning

The strike, now in its second week, has paralysed teaching and disrupted thousands of students across public universities. With both sides holding firm, the courts may now have the final word.