Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has used the national World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Monday, October 5, 2026, to address the ongoing university lecturers’ strike, calling on the affected lecturers and their unions to end the industrial action and return to teaching.

Ogamba said the government had demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of university academic staff by clearing outstanding arrears arising from previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). He appealed to university staff unions to reciprocate what he described as the government’s good faith by obeying court orders and resuming work. 

His remarks came only days after university lecturers began a nationwide strike on October 2, 2026, disrupting teaching and learning in public universities. The dispute centres largely on the implementation and negotiation of the 2025–2029 CBA, with university staff unions maintaining that their concerns have not been adequately addressed. 

Ogamba says previous CBA arrears have been cleared

Speaking before teachers, education officials, government representatives and other stakeholders gathered at Kasarani, Ogamba said the government had already settled historical arrears owed under previous agreements.

The CS specifically referred to the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs, saying the outstanding arrears under the agreements had been fully cleared.

Ogamba argued that the payment of the arrears was evidence that the government was serious about safeguarding the welfare of university lecturers and other education workers.

According to the CS, the government wanted the relationship between the State and university staff to be based on dialogue and negotiations rather than prolonged industrial action.

He therefore urged lecturers to recognise the steps taken by the government and return to classrooms. 

Call for lecturers to obey court orders

One of the strongest messages from Ogamba at Kasarani was his appeal to university staff unions and individual lecturers to comply with existing court orders.

He called on lecturers to obey the court orders and return to work, arguing that continuing the strike would negatively affect university students who depend on uninterrupted academic programmes.

Ogamba said the government was willing to address outstanding concerns through negotiations and that the education of students should not be interrupted while discussions continued.

The CS's appeal places the government’s position clearly: negotiations should continue, but university learning should resume as the two sides work toward an agreement on the remaining issues. 

2025–2029 CBA remains at the centre of the dispute

Although Ogamba said previous CBA arrears had been cleared, the lecturers’ strike is largely connected to the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The university staff unions have been pushing for negotiations and implementation of the new agreement, arguing that their employment terms, salaries and working conditions should be determined through collective bargaining.

Reports indicate that talks between university unions and government-linked representatives failed to produce an agreement that would prevent the strike. The unions have also raised concerns about proposals concerning salary increments and other terms of service. 

Ogamba, however, assured lecturers that the government remained ready to negotiate and conclude future CBAs in a timely manner.

He specifically included the 2025–2029 CBA in his commitment, signalling that the government was not closing the door on further discussions with the unions.

Ogamba warns against disrupting university education

The Education CS also expressed concern about the effect of the strike on students.

He said education should not be interrupted over matters that the government was willing to address at the negotiating table.

His argument is that while lecturers have legitimate employment concerns, students should not bear the consequences of the dispute between their employers and the government.

The strike has the potential to affect lectures, examinations, academic calendars and other university programmes if it continues for an extended period.

Ogamba therefore used the World Teachers’ Day platform to make a direct appeal for dialogue and a return to classrooms.

World Teachers’ Day message

Beyond the lecturers’ strike, Ogamba used his address to reflect on the broader importance of teachers and educators in Kenya.

The 2026 celebrations at Kasarani were held under the theme “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures.” 

Ogamba said the theme was a reminder that the success of Kenya’s education system depends heavily on the welfare and professional development of teachers.

He emphasised that teachers need support not only through words but also through practical measures that improve their working environment and professional lives.

The CS noted that an education system can only perform well when educators themselves are supported financially, physically and mentally. 

Government investment in education

Ogamba also highlighted government investment in education, saying the sector had received increased attention over recent years.

He pointed to the employment of teachers, career progression and capacity building as some of the measures aimed at improving the teaching profession.

He also acknowledged the important role teachers have played in the implementation of Kenya’s competency-based education reforms.

According to Ogamba, teachers have been at the centre of guiding learners through the various transitions associated with the Competency-Based Education system.

He said reforms of such a large scale inevitably come with challenges, but teachers have continued to play a central role in ensuring learners progress through the education system. 

Teacher welfare remains a major issue

Ogamba's remarks also placed teacher welfare at the centre of the World Teachers’ Day celebrations.

He said the government wants teachers to be paid on time, promoted fairly and supported to grow professionally.

This message was particularly significant given that the celebrations came at a time when another section of the education workforce—university lecturers—was engaged in an industrial dispute with the government.

The situation has therefore placed teacher welfare and collective bargaining among the key issues dominating Kenya's education sector.

While Ogamba insisted that previous arrears had been cleared, the lecturers’ strike demonstrates that disagreements over pay, working conditions and implementation of collective agreements remain an important challenge.

Unions maintain their position

The government’s position has not immediately brought an end to the strike.

University lecturers’ unions have maintained that their grievances concerning the new CBA must be addressed through genuine negotiations.

The unions have also raised concerns about proposals that they argue were presented without sufficient collective bargaining.

The dispute therefore remains centred on how the 2025–2029 agreement should be negotiated and implemented, as well as how university staff should be compensated under the new terms. 

Ogamba’s Kasarani remarks nevertheless indicate that the government is seeking to prevent the dispute from escalating further.

What Ogamba's message means for lecturers and students

Ogamba’s message can be summarised in three major points.

First, the government says it has cleared historical CBA arrears dating from the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 agreements.

Second, the government says it is ready to negotiate the 2025–2029 CBA and other future agreements.

Third, the Education CS wants lecturers to obey court orders and return to work so that university students can continue with their studies while negotiations proceed. 

The developments now place pressure on the university staff unions to decide whether to suspend the strike and return to negotiations or maintain the industrial action until their demands are addressed.

For students, the key concern is the restoration of normal learning in public universities. A prolonged strike could create uncertainty over academic calendars and examinations, while an early resolution would allow universities to resume their programmes.