Lecturers have decided to abort their strike which was scheduled on January 20, 2020, after a meeting of University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and government officials.
The lectures were to go on strike following failure by the government to heed to the requirements of Collective Bargaining Agreement )CBA) which was signed in October 28, 2019.
The CBA which was supposed to be implemented on November 30, 2019, could see lecturers earning 5.4 per cent of their current salary and the government could release sh1.8 billion for the pensions of the academic staff.
Speaking to the Star, UASU secretary-general Constantine Wesonga prompted the government to implement the 2017-2021 CBA before they can cancel the impending strike.
"We are in negotiations with the government and we want them to put its commitment in writing before we can agree to call off the strike,” he said.
He further advised the government to pay earlier to avoid obstruction of learning activities in the universities.
"We have asked the ministry to implement the deal as it was agreed. Pay all arrears between 2017 to date and we will not disrupt any learning activities," Wasonga said.
The government was supposed to pay sh13.8 billion but the union lowered it to sh8.8 billion recognising the tough economic times experienced in the country.
The unions mediating for the implementation of the CBA are; University Academic Staff Union, Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers and Kenya University Staff Union.