The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has secured pay increases for members who earn a Master’s or PhD while in service.
According to a notice shared with members by UASU Chapter Secretary Lusweti Walumoli and seen by The Kenya Times, the union has also secured new semester workload units for lecturers.
The decisions were reached following two days of intensive negotiations led by Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga and National Vice Chairperson Cyprian Ombati.
The talks focused on advancing the welfare of members.
UASU Announces Salary Increases for Master’s, PhDs and Sets 4 Units per Semester for Lecturers
Lecturers who earn a Master’s degree will receive two salary increases, while those with a PhD will move three notches ahead in Grade 12A.
Under the Master’s Degree Recognition, members who attain a Master’s degree while in service will receive two salary increments.
Meanwhile, under PhD Advancement, a member who earns a PhD (or its equivalent) will be automatically placed three notches ahead in Grade 12A, based on the salary point equivalent in Grade 11A.
Also Read: Salaries, Benefits and Qualifications for Lecturers in Kenya
Workload for Lecturers
Academic staff will handle 4 units per semester, for a total of 8 units per academic year.
The academic year will run from September to December for the first semester and January to April for the second.
The May to August trimester will be voluntary, allowing staff the option to participate.
For Health Sciences programs that operate on a trimester system, the 8-unit workload will be spread across three semesters, typically distributed as 3 units in the first semester, 3 units in the second, and 2 units in the third.
“The negotiations were adjourned to allow consultations with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on a few remaining issues, particularly allowances,” the notice read further.
The matter of lecturer workload has previously led to litigation, notably in a case involving the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).
In court submissions, it was reported that TUM management attempted to increase the number of lecturer units from 3 to 4 per semester.
In a ruling in October 2019, the court held that the maximum workload for any lecturer is 3 units per semester.
This workload is calculated to include research time, lecture preparation, lab work, clinicals, and fieldwork, as applicable.
Also Read: Govt Sets New Retirement Age for Public Varsity Lecturers
UASU Strike
The developments come after lecturers ended a seven-week strike in November last year, following the signing of a Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF) by UASU and the Inter-Public Universities Councils’ Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).
UASU and the government agreed on a payment plan for the outstanding Ksh 7.9 billion owed to lecturers. The first installment of Ksh 3.9 billion was scheduled for release in December 2025, while the second tranche remained under discussion.
The Phase Two arrears under the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), amounting to Ksh 2.73 billion, were marked as settled pending final verification by the Joint Local Implementation Committees.
Tax computations on the arrears are to follow Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) guidelines issued in 2020.
The deal also committed the employer and unions to fast-track negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA within 30 days, involving UASU, the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and KUDHEIHA workers.
