National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has appealed to university staff unions to suspend their ongoing strike and instead engage in dialogue as a path to resolving their grievances.

Speaking on Tuesday at Parliament Buildings, after meeting officials of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), the Speaker acknowledged their concerns over the government’s commitment to honouring existing Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

The two unions, which declared a nationwide strike on September 17, are demanding a cumulative settlement of Sh11.53 billion in salary arrears dating back to 2017. 

At the core of the dispute is Sh2.73 billion owed under the second phase of the 2021–25 CBA and Sh8.8 billion arrears from the 2017–21 CBA. 

The unions are also pressing for the negotiation, registration, and implementation of a new 2025–29 CBA.

The boycott has plunged public universities into crisis, disrupting lectures, examinations, and research across all 39 public universities and their campuses. 

The unions have accused the government, through the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF), the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury, of acting in bad faith. 

They further cite a January 2021 court order directing the government and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to fully fund the implementation of the 2017–21 CBA, which they say remains unfulfilled.

In response, Wetang’ula underscored Parliament’s role as a neutral platform for resolving such disputes.

“I reminded the union leaders that Parliament remains a key institution for addressing such concerns and advised them to make use of the House by formally presenting their petitions, provided the matter is not before any court of law,” he said.

The Speaker assured UASU and KUSU that once their petitions are processed by the Office of the Clerk and tabled before the House early next week, he will request the Public Petitions Committee to prioritise and fast-track their consideration.

According to him, the committee will invite the petitioners to present their submissions and will also summon top officials from the Ministry of Education, including the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary for Higher Education, to respond to the issues raised.

“This process will ensure that both sides are heard and a structured way forward is developed,” Wetang’ula noted.

At the same time, the Speaker appealed to the unions not to hold students hostage to the dispute, stressing that learning should not be disrupted when dialogue is possible.

“I encouraged them to return to class, give negotiations a chance, and allow Parliament to play its rightful role in mediating and finding lasting solutions in the best interests of all stakeholders in higher education,” he added.

The strike, now in its second week, continues to deepen anxiety among students and parents as uncertainty over the academic calendar grows.