Lecturers call off crippling strike after State agrees to Sh9b pay rise

UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga, Education CS Julius Ogamba and Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala after signing a return-to-work agreement. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Learning will resume in public universities on Monday after unions and the government struck a Sh9 billion deal, ending learners’ agony that has kept them out of class for three weeks.

Yesterday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and officials from the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) signed the deal at the Ministry of Labour offices, bringing smiles to the faces of lecturers and reviving hope among gloomy students.

“The government has ceded to our demands by availing Sh9.6 billion for a pay increase for academic staff in universities.

‘‘We, therefore, call off the strike and direct lecturers to prepare to report back to work on Monday,” said Constantine Wasonga, the Uasu secretary-general.

The union also indicated it was committed to recovering the 26 days lost during the strike.

The lowest-paid teaching staff take home up to Sh97,988. Currently, the lowest-paid teaching staff, graduate assistants, earn Sh57,729.

Professors, who are the highest-paid teaching staff, will benefit from a seven per cent salary increase, taking home between Sh224,631 and Sh345,816. Currently, the highest-paid professor earns Sh209,694.

And this is not all. The Christmas bonus for teaching staff will also see them receive hefty allowances, which will be negotiated internally at the respective universities. The implementation will occur in three phases, with the first phase of Sh4.3 billion covering until June 2025.

The balance of Sh5.4 billion will be paid in two instalments of Sh2.7 billion each, in the financial years 2025/2026 and the remaining balance in 2026/2027.

“The CBA applies to the 2021-2025 cycle. The salary adjustments under this CBA will take effect starting July 1, 2023. Any payment due for the period prior to the implementation date of October 1 will be treated as arrears. These arrears will be settled in two equal instalments during the financial years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027,” the return-to-work formula reads.

An analysis by The Sunday Standard reveals that teaching staff will receive a salary increase ranging from Sh6,000 for graduate assistants, to Sh63,000 for full professors.

Professors will be the primary beneficiaries of the pay rise, with an increase ranging from Sh14,939 to Sh62,729.

The salary increase will be backdated by 16 months, starting from 1 July 2023.

Assistant lecturers, currently earning Sh97,842, will now take home between Sh107,872 and Sh166,072. Lecturers, who currently earn Sh110,591, will see their salaries raised to between Sh121,928 and Sh187,710.

Senior lecturers, earning Sh144,450, will now earn between Sh154,749 and Sh238,221.

Associate professors earning Sh180,337 will see their salaries increase to between Sh193,182 and Sh297,403.

For academic staff, including graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, and assistant lecturers, the retirement age will be harmonised and set at 70 years.

Senior lecturers, associate professors, and professors will see their retirement age extended to 74 years.