UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga/Screengrab

University lecturers are expected to resume teaching on Monday after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) reached a Sh20 billion financial deal with the government to end a nationwide strike that has disrupted learning in public universities for nearly a month.

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the union would officially call off the strike on Friday at 3 pm after its technical team puts the agreed terms in writing.

“Tomorrow (Thursday), our technical team is going to sit down to put what we have agreed on on pen and paper,” Wasonga said.

He thanked Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo for bringing the parties together to resolve the dispute.

Wasonga said the financial package had been negotiated with the government and was not imposed on the union.

“Today we have agreed on a figure we have negotiated with the government, not a figure imposed on the union,” he said.

He praised Ogamba, describing him as a man of his word, and urged lecturers to prepare to return to their respective universities.

“I want to tell the country CS Ogamba is a man of his word. These things, when we talk, we solve them,” he said.

“To comrades, start walking towards your universities. I want to assure you that on Monday, you shall have your lessons,” he added.

The technical team is expected to document the agreement ahead of the formal termination of the industrial action. Wasonga did not disclose how the Sh20 billion would be distributed or the specific payment schedule.

The strike began on October 2 after negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) stalled, with UASU insisting that the government commit sufficient funds to meet lecturers’ demands.

The union had rejected a proposed Sh9.76 billion allocation, arguing that it was insufficient to cover the four-year agreement. Wasonga said the new CBA included additional provisions beyond basic salary adjustments, including the harmonisation of allowances and car loan and mortgage arrangements.

The dispute followed months of negotiations between the union, university councils and the government. UASU had also raised concerns over medical cover, staff shortages and the funding of university employees, insisting that their salaries should be financed through the National Exchequer rather than student fees.

The prolonged strike has disrupted teaching and learning across public universities, leaving students uncertain about when academic activities would resume.

On Tuesday, University of Nairobi students staged protests demanding an end to the standoff, with some warning that the disruption had left learners idle and affected their academic progress. The students called on the government and lecturers to resolve their differences and allow learning to resume.

The latest deal could bring relief to thousands of students who have been unable to attend regular lectures since the industrial action began.

The parties are expected to formalise the financial agreement before UASU officially calls off the strike on Friday.