NAIROBI, Kenya- After a week of campus silence and disrupted learning, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) have officially called off their strike.
A deal struck with the inter-ministerial committee has not only brought staff back to work but also introduced significant salary hikes and improved retirement terms, providing much-needed relief for university staff across the country.
Those in grades 13A to 15A can look forward to a 7pc pay increase, while employees in grades 10A to 12A will enjoy a 10pc salary hike by October 2024.
The announcement marks the end of the work stoppage, ensuring that normal university operations will resume.
This development comes after a tense standoff between the unions and the government, which was resolved with the signing of a return-to-work formula.
As part of the deal, the employer has agreed to withdraw a court case filed against the striking staff. Even better, no disciplinary actions will be taken against those who participated in the industrial action.
Another significant win for university employees: retirement ages have been harmonized.
For KUSU members, teaching laboratory staff, and university librarians, the retirement age will now be set at 65 years. Meanwhile, for academic staff, retirement will vary by rank.
Graduate Assistants, Tutorial Fellows, and Assistant Lecturers will retire at 70, while Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors, and full Professors will enjoy an extended working life, retiring at 74 years.
This change is seen as a victory for employees who felt their contributions were cut short by previous retirement regulations.
By aligning retirement ages across roles, the agreement has introduced a much-needed sense of fairness for university staff.
The journey to implementing these changes is far from over. A National Implementation Committee—comprising representatives from both the unions and the employer—will oversee the execution of the agreed terms outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
This committee will ensure that the salary hikes, retirement age adjustments, and other negotiated benefits are rolled out smoothly.
