Treasury Appeals to Lecturers to Accept Staggered Payments Amid Fiscal Strain
Appearing before the Education Parliamentary Committee on Tuesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi disclosed that the government cannot immediately settle the Ksh.7.9 billion owed to lecturers
The Treasury has appealed to striking university lecturers to accept their pending salaries and allowances in instalments, citing the government’s tight fiscal position
Appearing before the Education Parliamentary Committee on Tuesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi disclosed that the government cannot immediately settle the Ksh.7.9 billion owed to lecturers
Mbadi explained that the Ministry of Education had initially sought approval to release the funds in three instalments a plan later reduced to two tranches covering the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 financial years but both proposals were rejected by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU)
“We want to commit ourselves to an arrangement we can realistically sustain. Our economic stability is improving compared to last year, when we almost defaulted on our foreign debt,” Mbadi said.
“I therefore urge lecturers to acknowledge the realities of our current economic situation and agree to a payment formula that is economically viable for the government.”
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the unions’ refusal to accept staggered payments has left the ministry with limited options
“They insist on being paid the full amount at once, despite our explanation that the money has not been budgeted for—and that remains the current position,” Ogamba stated.
Ogamba added that out of the Ksh.7.9 billion demanded, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) determined that only Ksh.624 million qualified as arrears. Of this, Ksh.200 million has already been disbursed.
UASU, however, has remained adamant that lecturers will not resume work until the entire amount is paid in full
Also read : CS Kagwe Promises Timely Settlement of Pending Salaries for Public Sugar Factory Workers
Secretary General Constantine Wesonga said the union no longer trusts government promises, insisting that all arrears must be cleared and the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) fully negotiated and implemented
“We have been through this before. The government has a history of reneging on agreements. This time, we will not go back to class until everything is paid,” Wesonga maintained
The stalemate threatens to prolong the ongoing lecturers’ strike, further disrupting learning in public universities across the country
Writer : Mweru Mbugua
