University lecturers in Kenya call off 54-day strike

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - A 54-day strike by university lectures in Kenya was officially called off after the Universities Academic Staff Union reached an agreement with the Kenyan government Monday, according to the union.

The union's secretary-general, Constantine Wasonga, directed all university heads to ensure that classes resumed from Tuesday.

The union and the government also signed a collective bargaining agreement Monday.

Under the deal, lecturers will receive a 17.5 percent pay hike which will cost the government $97.4 million; the union had initially demanded a 30 percent pay hike.

“This settlement was the best that we could reach given that the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] we signed in 2013 expires in three months,” Wasonga said after the meeting with officials from the Ministry of Health.

He added that academic staff at public universities will benefit from arrears that have accumulated since 2013.