President William Ruto has questioned the push by university lecturers to have their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reviewed every two years as the nationwide strike continues.
Ruto spoke about the demand on Monday, October 5, during the World Teachers’ Day celebrations at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
The President said he understood that teachers were seeking to change the CBA cycle from four years to two years.
He questioned the need for the change, appearing to suggest that the government had already agreed to a four-year cycle before the new demand emerged.
Ruto also raised concerns about the impact of frequent labour disputes on students, who are forced to stay away from classrooms whenever lecturers go on strike.
The President’s remarks came as university lecturers remained out of class over disagreements surrounding the implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other university staff unions began their nationwide strike on October 2, demanding the implementation of the new agreement.
The unions have raised several issues, including salary increments, allowances, medical cover, staffing and the implementation of previous agreements.
UASU has also accused the government of failing to honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed in November 2025 and of delaying a financial proposal for the 2025–2029 CBA.
The strike has disrupted learning in public universities, with students affected as lecturers continue to withhold their services.
Ruto’s remarks came hours after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba ordered striking lecturers to obey court orders and return to work.
Ogamba said the government had cleared all arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs.
“As we speak today, all arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs have been cleared,” Ogamba said.
The CS said the government was ready to continue engaging university staff unions over the 2025–2029 agreement.
He urged lecturers to reciprocate what he described as the government’s good faith by returning to classrooms.
Ogamba’s directive followed court orders requiring the striking university staff to resume work as negotiations continue.
Ruto, meanwhile, used the World Teachers’ Day celebrations to praise teachers for their role in shaping the country.
He said every professional, including engineers, doctors, architects and scientists, had passed through the hands of teachers.
“No profession shapes our nation more,” Ruto said, adding that teachers not only educate children but also help build the people who drive the country’s development.
The President said his administration had chosen to confront long-standing challenges in the education sector rather than continue postponing difficult decisions.
His remarks on the CBA cycle come at a critical time for the university sector, with the government and lecturers under pressure to resolve the dispute and restore learning in public universities.
