The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has threatened to call a nationwide lecturers’ strike over delays in negotiating the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and proposed changes to the retirement age for academic staff.
The union warned that unless the two issues are addressed, lecturers across public universities could withdraw their labour, disrupting learning, examinations, research and student supervision.
One of the union’s main concerns is a Public Service Commission (PSC) circular issued in March 2026, which set the retirement age for professors and associate professors at 70 years, while lecturers, senior lecturers and other academic staff would retire at 65 years.
UASU has opposed the policy, saying it was introduced without adequate consultation and could significantly reduce the country’s pool of experienced academics.
According to UASU-UoN Chapter Secretary Prof George Osanjo, the University of Nairobi is likely to be among the institutions most affected because it has a large number of ageing academic staff.
“The University of Nairobi is in a very unique position. This is the oldest university in the republic, and it has the most ageing academic staff. The circular will affect the University of Nairobi disproportionately,” Osanjo said.
He warned that implementing the policy could eventually see up to 70 per cent of the university’s academic workforce leave, adding that the institution had already lost nearly 40 per cent of its lecturers through retirements, resignations, deaths and other exits.
Beyond the retirement age dispute, UASU accused the government of delaying negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA and failing to fully honour commitments under previous collective bargaining agreements.
The union also rejected a government counter-offer of Ksh3.1 billion, saying the amount does not reflect inflation, fair pay or the value of academic labour.
The latest warning comes amid growing labour unrest in public universities. At Moi University, lecturers have threatened to disrupt the September reopening over delayed salary arrears, insisting that funds allocated by the government should be used for their intended purpose.
“The Ksh1.2 billion allocated by the government was meant to settle salary arrears for 2017 to 2022. Those funds must be accounted for, and the outstanding obligations paid,” UASU officials said as they demanded the immediate settlement of about KSh500 million they claim is still owed.
The disputes at the University of Nairobi and Moi University highlight broader challenges facing Kenya’s public universities, including staffing shortages, delayed CBAs, salary disputes and funding constraints. Unless negotiations resume soon, thousands of students could face another round of disruptions as universities prepare for the next academic term.
