Kenya's Universities academic staff union calls off strike

Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) Secretary General Dr Charles Mukhwaya (centre) flanked by UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga (left)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Universities Academic Staff Union has called off the strike after seven weeks of intensive talks.

In a statement, the body said it has signed the 2013-2017 collective bargaining agreement concluding the 54 days strike that has paralysed learning and research at all public and private universities.

A highlight of the CBA is 17.5 percent increase in basic salary and 3.9 percent increase in house allowance across the board expect Maasai Mara University.

“The CBA is for the 2013-2017 quadrennium, and is effective from 1st July 2013 and expires 30th June 2017,” Said UASU adding that this means that academic staff will benefit from arrears that have accrued over the quadrennium.

UASU acknowledged that coming to the final was challenging. “While UASU made some concessions, to save the higher education sector from collapse, and for the sake of our students,” reads UASU statement. “We assure members that settlement was the best possible deal.”