NAIROBI, October 28, 2026 — University lecturers and the government have reached a verbal agreement on a KSh20 billion deal aimed at ending the nationwide university lecturers’ strike that has disrupted learning in 35 public universities for nearly four weeks.

The agreement follows weeks of negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which covers salaries and allowances for university lecturers.

The strike began on October 2, 2026, after lecturers rejected the government’s initial offer of KSh11.96 billion, which they considered inadequate. The offer was rejected on Monday, October 26, paving the way for further negotiations.

Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga confirmed that the two sides had reached an understanding on the financial component of the dispute.

“We have a deal on financials. Now our technical team is going to sit down to put what we have agreed on, on pen and paper,” Wasonga said.

The technical teams are expected to document the agreed terms on Thursday, October 29, ahead of the formal signing scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 3 p.m.

If the agreement is signed as planned, lecturers are expected to call off the strike, allowing learning to resume on Monday, November 2.

UASU Chairperson Grace Nyongesa also confirmed that lecturers would call off the industrial action once the agreed payment formula is formally signed.

The proposed KSh20 billion package is expected to be implemented in three phases, with the first tranche scheduled for release in December. According to the details provided, the first phase involves KSh3.9 billion out of KSh7.9 billion in outstanding payments.

Another significant provision concerns lecturers who faced disciplinary action during the strike. The government and the union have reportedly agreed that show-cause letters, suspensions and interdictions issued against lecturers over their participation in the industrial action will be withdrawn unconditionally.

The provision is intended to ensure that lecturers do not lose their jobs or salaries because of their participation in the strike.

The negotiations involved Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

The prolonged industrial action has disrupted academic programmes across public universities, with some institutions forced to adjust their schedules.

Moi University had already postponed its 49th graduation ceremony amid the disruption.

With the financial agreement reportedly reached, attention now shifts to Friday’s planned signing, which will determine whether the lecturers formally end the strike and allow thousands of students to return to class next week.

However, the planned reopening remains dependent on the formalisation of the agreement and the union’s official decision to call off the strike.