The Mt Kenya Times 
KUSU Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya
The union calls on the government to honour legally binding agreements and release over KSh100 billion owed to public institutions
By John Kariuki
The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) yesterday called on the government to abandon any plans to reduce professors’ salaries, honour all Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) in force, and release more than KSh100 billion owed to public universities.
Speaking on behalf of the union, KUSU Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya said any move to cut professors’ pay would deal a direct blow to Kenya’s higher education sector, further weakening institutions already under severe financial strain.
“The salaries of professors must not be lowered. Our universities cannot attract, retain and motivate world-class scholars if the government continues to undermine the welfare of academic staff,” Mukhwaya said.
He urged the government to urgently disburse the more than KSh100 billion owed to public universities, warning that chronic underfunding is crippling teaching, research, innovation and the delivery of quality education.
“Our universities are under immense financial pressure. The government must honour its obligations without delay. A knowledge-driven economy cannot be built by starving the very institutions that produce the country’s skilled workforce,” he said.
Mukhwaya also opposed any administrative attempts to alter the retirement age for university staff, insisting that retirement terms had been negotiated and incorporated into legally binding CBAs. His remarks come against the backdrop of a Public Service Commission circular issued on March 2 this year, which reduced the retirement age for professors from 74 to 70 years. The Employment and Labour Relations Court initially suspended the directive but upheld it on July 29 following a challenge by the Universities Academic Staff Union.
“The retirement age was mutually agreed upon through collective bargaining and the agreements were duly registered by the courts. Those agreements carry the force of law and must be respected,” Mukhwaya said.
He maintained that a government circular cannot override a court-registered CBA.
“A circular is inferior to a mutually agreed Collective Bargaining Agreement that has been registered in court. The government must respect the law and honour the agreements it freely entered into,” he said.
While affirming KUSU’s commitment to constructive engagement, Mukhwaya called for genuine dialogue between the government, university councils and workers’ representatives to resolve outstanding issues.
“KUSU believes in dialogue. Meaningful engagement remains the best avenue for resolving labour disputes and strengthening our institutions. However, dialogue must be anchored on mutual respect, good faith and adherence to existing agreements,” he said.
Mukhwaya further noted that as the country enters an election cycle, workers across Kenya are assessing leaders on their track record on labour rights.
“As the election year approaches, workers are looking to leaders who will stand with them, safeguard their rights and honour commitments made to Kenyan workers. Respect for labour rights is a measure of responsible leadership,” he said.
The union reiterated its commitment to defending the rights and welfare of university staff, calling on the government to uphold the Constitution, respect existing CBAs, adequately fund public universities and safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s higher education system.
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