The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has threatened a nationwide lecturers' strike over delays in concluding the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and a controversial government policy on the retirement age of university lecturers.
The union warns that unless both disputes are resolved urgently, public universities could face widespread disruption, affecting lectures, examinations, research and student supervision just weeks before the next academic term begins.
UASU rejects retirement age policy
At the centre of the dispute is a Public Service Commission (PSC) circular issued in March 2026, which sets the retirement age for professors and associate professors at 70 years while requiring lecturers, senior lecturers and other academic staff to retire at 65.
UASU argues that the policy was introduced without meaningful consultation and risks triggering a wave of premature retirements at institutions already grappling with acute staffing shortages.
According to UASU-UoN Chapter Secretary Prof George Osanjo, the University of Nairobi would be among the hardest-hit institutions because it has one of the country's oldest academic workforces.
"The University of Nairobi is in a very unique position. This is the oldest university in the republic, and it has the most ageing academic staff. The circular will affect the University of Nairobi disproportionately," Osanjo said.
He warned that implementing the directive could eventually force nearly 70 percent of the university's academic workforce out of service, noting that the institution has already lost almost 40 percent of its lecturers through retirement, resignations, deaths and other exits.
CBA deadlock fuels fresh labour unrest
Beyond the retirement age dispute, UASU has accused the government of dragging its feet on negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA and failing to fully implement commitments made under previous agreements.
The union has also dismissed the government's Ksh3.1 billion counter-offer, arguing that it falls far short of addressing inflation, fair remuneration and the realities facing university lecturers.
The latest warning comes amid escalating labour tensions across Kenya's public universities.
At Moi University, lecturers have threatened to disrupt the September reopening unless outstanding salary arrears are settled, insisting that Ksh1.2 billion allocated by the government should be used for its intended purpose.
Union officials maintain that approximately Ksh500 million remains unpaid and have demanded full accountability over the disbursement of the funds.
The parallel disputes at the University of Nairobi and Moi University underscore deeper structural challenges facing Kenya's higher education sector, including delayed CBAs, chronic underfunding, staffing shortages and unresolved salary disputes.
Unless negotiations resume and an agreement is reached in the coming weeks, universities could once again face widespread disruptions that affect thousands of students across the country.
