Public university lecturers have been in a standoff with the government, demanding improved salaries as outlined in their 2025-29 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposals.
Belonging to Job Groups 11 to 15, lecturers are expected to receive a significant pay rise compared to other professions. However, they argue that the increase is long overdue and continue to push for its implementation.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has also proposed increases in house, car and commuter allowances and other allowances for academic staff.
“Annual increments shall be awarded across the grades from July 1, 2025, up to June 30, 2029, at an average rate of six per cent of basic salary, subject to respective salary grade ceiling,” said Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wasonga in the proposal.
Here is a breakdown of the new salary increments from the lowest to highest paid:
The lowest paid worker according to the CBA is graduate/research assistant who is under job Grade 10A band D5, earning a basic pay of Kshs 63,647. Should the CBA take effect on July 1, the figure is set to rise to Kshs 68,739 from July and Kshs 74,239 from July 2026, Kshs 80,179 in July 2027, and Kshs 86,594 in the subsequent year.
An assistant lecturer or a tutorial fellow/junior research fellow who falls in the in Grade 11A, Band E1, currently earning Sh107,872, will get Kshs 116,502 from July, Kshs 125,832 from July next year, Kshs 135,889 from July 2027 and Kshs 146,761 in July 2028.
Next on the list is a lecturer or research fellow placed in Grade 12A band E2, earning Kshs 121,928. Their pay will be increased to Kshs 131,683 from July, bumped up to Kshs142,218 from July next year, Kshs 153,596 in July 2027 and kshs 165,884 in 2028.
Senior lecturers and research fellows who fall in Grade 13A Band E3, and earns Kshs 154,739, will from July earn Kshs 167,119, Kshs 180,489 from July next year, Kshs 194, 929 July 2027, and Kshs 210,524 the following year.
An associate professor comes next, placed in Grade 14A Band E4 and currently earns Kshs 193,182. From July 1, the proposal recommends a basic salary of Kshs 208,637 from July, Kshs 243,355 from July 2027 and Kshs 262,824 in 2028.
The highest-paid on the list is a full professor earning basic pay of Kshs 224,631. If the proposal os signed, he/she will take home Kshs 242,602 from July, Kshs 262,011 from July next year, Kshs 282,972 from July 2027 and Kshs 305,610 in July 2028.
Breakdown of Allowances
House Allowance
Uasu proposes that allowance increase across all grades similar to the salaries and hence the dons will be receiving a boost for housing.
Professors and research professors currently earning Kshs h73,715 will get Kshs 116,028 while associate professors/associate research professors will receive Kshs 104,426 from Kshs 66,344. Senior lecturers/senior research fellows will earn Kshs 92,822 from Kshs 58,972 while lecturers/research fellows take home Kshs 87,020 from Kshs 55,286.
The union proposes a house allowance of Kshs 81,220 for lecturers/tutorial fellows/junior research fellows, from Kshs 51,601. Additionally, graduate assistants/teaching assistants/research assistants will earn Kshs55,692, from Kshs 35,383.
Car and Commuter Allowance
Professors and research professors will receive a boost from Kshs 50,000 to Kshs 60,000 every month while associate professor/associate research professors will earn Kshs 60,000 from Kshs 40,000. Senior lecturer/senior research fellow will receive Kshs 60,000 from Kshs 32,000.
“Lecturer/research fellow Sh60,000 up from Sh24,000, assistant lecturer/tutorial fellow/junior research fellow Sh60,000 up from Sh20,000, graduate assistant/teaching assistant Sh60,000 up from Sh20,000 and part-timers getting Sh20,000 from Sh15,000,” the CBA read.
Risk Allowance
UASU has proposed monthly risk allowances for staff exposed to hazards, including those in medicine, veterinary, engineering, ICT, and other scientific fields.
They also seek extraneous allowances for extra responsibilities, long working hours, or high-stress roles, particularly for teaching staff in medicine, nursing, and administrative positions. Additional proposals include daily subsistence allowances for official assignments outside assigned duty stations.
Others include professorial allowance to be paid monthly and book and ICT allowance to be paid annually to members.
“Annual leave allowance shall be paid annually to teaching members. Non-practice allowance shall be paid monthly to teaching members of staff who are registered professionals in any field,” the document added.
UASU also proposes setting the retirement age at 70 years for graduate assistants, tutorial fellows, assistant lecturers, and junior research fellows, while lecturers, senior lecturers, associate professors, and professors would retire at 74 years.
In the event of a staff member’s death, UASU proposes that families of permanent or contract academic staff receive death benefits per Pension Scheme stipulates. They are to be compensated with 96 months’ gross salary under the group life insurance policy.
Additionally, the employer should cover the following expenses: three months’ gross salary for members with over two years of service, two months’ salary for those with one but less than two years of service and one month’s salary for less than one year of service, plus Ksh 80,000 for coffin expenses.
The proposal follows a nationwide strike that disrupted learning across the country. The union is urging the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to factor it into the 2025-26 budget, warning that failure to do so could spark renewed conflict between lecturers and the government.
