Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued fresh orders to striking university lecturers, directing them to obey court orders and return to work as negotiations over their grievances continue.
Ogamba made the remarks on Monday, October 5, during the national World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani, Nairobi, as the lecturers’ nationwide strike entered its fourth day.
The CS said the government had demonstrated its commitment to addressing the welfare of university lecturers by clearing outstanding arrears under previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
“As we speak today, all arrears under the 2017-2021 and 2021-2025 CBAs have been cleared,” Ogamba said.
He added that the government was committed to concluding future agreements, including the 2025-2029 CBA, through negotiations with university staff unions.
Ogamba urged the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and individual lecturers to reciprocate what he termed government’s good faith by ending the strike.
“I therefore call upon UASU and individual lecturers to reciprocate this good faith, obey court orders and return to work,” he said.
The CS also appealed to the lecturers to consider the interests of students, saying the ongoing dispute should not disrupt learning in public universities.
“Let us not interrupt the education of our students over matters that the government has demonstrated it is ready and willing to resolve at the negotiating table,” Ogamba said.
The lecturers began their nationwide strike on Friday, October 2, after UASU and other university staff unions accused the government of failing to implement the 2025-2029 CBA.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga said the union was also protesting the failure by university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025.
The union has further accused the government of failing to table a financial counter-proposal for the 2025-2029 CBA despite negotiations having continued for months.
The strike has disrupted teaching in several public universities, with lecturers being asked not to conduct classes as the dispute continues.
UASU had earlier said its demands include the implementation of the new CBA and resolution of outstanding issues relating to salaries, allowances, medical benefits and staffing.
Ogamba’s latest directive comes as the government and university staff unions face pressure to resolve the dispute and prevent further disruption of learning.
The CS maintained that the government was ready to continue negotiations while urging lecturers to return to classrooms and allow the talks to proceed.
