As the lecturers’ strike reaches its sixth week, both the lecturers’ unions, KUSU and UASU, and the government, represented by the Ministry of Education, have remained firm in their positions over the ongoing stalemate involving KSh 7.9 billion, which the unions assert is owed to their members.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education, Beatrice Inyangala, on Friday, October 24, 2025, admitted that the outstanding balance indeed stands at KSh 7.9 billion, marking a U-turn from her earlier position that placed the figure at KSh 600 million.
“So that figure that has been agreed upon, between the representatives of the vice chancellors and the unions UASU and KUSU as we are here this afternoon, discussions are still ongoing on ending the strike,” said Inyangala.
Unions Fail to End Lecturers’ Strike
The ongoing strike by university lecturers has exposed a deep financial crisis within the country’s public universities, with newly verified data showing that the government owes institutions a combined KSh 7.9 billion in unpaid arrears from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The impasse has paralyzed learning and disrupted academic operations across the nation. A detailed breakdown, verified and signed by union officials and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) as of October 21, 2025, highlights the exact financial burden facing each university.
Also Read: Firing of Lecturers Begins as Standoff Persists
Breakdown of What Govt Owes Each of 38 Universities
Below is a breakdown of what the government owes each of the 38 public universities
| S/No. | Name of the University | Monies Owed by GoK (KSh) |
| 1 | University of Nairobi | 1,415,542,536 |
| 2 | Moi University | 719,568,436 |
| 3 | Kenyatta University | 798,653,490 |
| 4 | Egerton University | 467,645,971 |
| 5 | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 645,304,769 |
| 6 | Maseno University | 301,989,107 |
| 7 | Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology | 250,058,196 |
| 8 | Technical University of Kenya | 377,647,207 |
| 9 | Dedan Kimathi University of Technology | 120,850,729 |
| 10 | University of Eldoret | 298,536,550 |
| 11 | Chuka University | 133,909,218 |
| 12 | Maasai Mara University | 148,209,610 |
| 13 | Laikipia University | 105,407,769 |
| 14 | Pwani University | 126,665,072 |
| 15 | Technical University of Mombasa | 139,059,041 |
| 16 | Meru University of Science and Technology | 89,104,785 |
| 17 | Multi-Media University | 100,510,504 |
| 18 | Kisii University | 256,507,991 |
| 19 | Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University | 169,319,170 |
| 20 | University of Kabianga | 118,441,900 |
| 21 | Karatina University | 99,204,847 |
| 22 | Kibabii University | 65,383,114 |
| 23 | South Eastern Kenya University | 106,747,824 |
| 24 | Machakos University | 113,445,995 |
| 25 | Kirinyaga University | 62,720,827 |
| 26 | Taita Taveta University | 49,549,175 |
| 27 | Co-operative University of Kenya | 65,424,347 |
| 28 | Rongo University | 54,133,331 |
| 29 | University of Embu | 122,683,722 |
| 30 | Murang’a University | 60,509,216 |
| 31 | Garissa University | 24,976,712 |
| 32 | Tom Mboya University College | 18,574,068 |
| 33 | Alupe University College | 13,562,882 |
| 34 | Kaimosi Friends University College | 40,693,943 |
| 35 | Tharaka University College | 21,994,768 |
| 36 | Bomet University College | 14,347,382 |
| 37 | Turkana University College | 20,453,963 |
| 38 | Koitalel Samoei University College | 4,144,528 |
The lecturers’ strike, now on its 40th day, began in September 2025, shortly after the start of the new academic year.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, talks between the government and university staff unions collapsed after lecturers rejected the government’s offer of KSh 3.5 billion, insisting that the entire KSh 7.9 billion owed to them be paid in full.
Also Read: Drama as Kenyatta University Lecturers Storm Classes, Exchange Blows
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga said the lecturers would not compromise on the payment of the Ksh 7.9 billion owed to them.
“We shall not compromise on the payment of Ksh 7.9 billion, and it must be paid in full. History has taught us that if we agree to partial payments, it only leads to another strike,” said Mr. Wesonga.
On his part, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said his ministry is still engaging the lecturers to resolve the stalemate.
“The time lost by students during the past five or six weeks will have to be recovered,” said CS Ogamba.
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After this strike i suggest we take all these govt officials back to class to do some maths. How can they fail something as simple as 7.9bn, calling it 624m? We begin with Ogamba
Students had used part of HELB loan for upkeep and accomodation ,how will the government compensate for part of HELB already wasted?
If you borrow 1000 from the bank in January, do you yours return as 1,000 in 12 months? This goes to mean that it’s abit unfair to have money kept for you, then after 5 or so years you are given the same amount. Why can’t the arrears be paid, implementation of the next CBA take place and the system smoothly run? Hii issue ya arrears imekuwa to much, with the students suffering. Government leaders please consider that.