Public university lecturers and staff called off their nationwide strike on Thursday after signing a return-to-work formula with the government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

The lecturers commenced their strike on September 18, citing delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the government.

 Subsequently, an inter-ministerial committee was formed to address the stalemate.

In a statement on X on Thursday, Labour CS Dr. Alfred Mutua highlighted that the truce was struck after a long meeting with various labor unions and entities, including the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), at his ministry's headquarters.

Officials from the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) were also in attendance.

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According to Mutua, universities will now implement an enhanced monthly basic salary, with increments ranging from 7% to 10%.

Additionally, an automatic annual increment of 4% of the basic salary will be implemented for the duration of the CBA cycle, running from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.



While assuring the labor unions and entities that his ministry will set up mechanisms to address university staff grievances before they escalate into industrial action, Mutua announced the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to address unresolved issues.

The committee will convene for a month, effective October 1, 2024.