Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has directed striking public university lecturers to resume duties while confirming that the government has settled all outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) financial arrears.
Speaking during the national World Teachers’ Day celebrations at the Kasarani Sports Complex on Monday, October 5, 2026, CS Ogamba emphasized that the ministry has fulfilled its financial commitments and resolved historical pending claims.
The Education CS appealed to university staff unions and individual lecturers to comply with existing court directives and return to their lecture halls to prevent further academic disruption.
“Let me speak to striking lecturers, the government has committed to safeguarding the welfare of lecturers,” CS Ogamba stated while addressing the gathering at Kasarani.
CS Ogamba clarified that all outstanding payments under the 2017/2021 and 2021/2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements have now been fully disbursed to public universities.
“As of today, all arrears under the 2017/2021 and 2021/2025 CBA have been cleared. We have resolved the problem of historical arrears under the CBA,” CS Ogamba added.
CS Ogamba’s Direct Call to Striking University Staff
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining constructive engagement with academic staff unions to ensure long-term stability across public institutions.
“It is with this spirit that we are committed to timely negotiation and conclusion of all collective bargaining, including the 2025–2029 CBA,” the Education CS noted.
He urged all university staff unions and individual educators to respect the judicial process and halt ongoing industrial actions without delay.
“I therefore call upon all university unions and individual lecturers to obey the court order and go back to work,” CS Ogamba directed.
The directive comes as higher education stakeholders urge a swift end to work stoppages that threaten university academic calendars and graduation schedules nationwide.
The Ministry of Education expects public universities to resume normal academic operations immediately following the government’s clearance of all pending CBA dues.
On the other hand, striking university lecturers have responded to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, declaring that they will not return to classes.
