Education – Latest: KTCSU blames varsity stalemate on poor governance by vice-chancellors

Nairobi, Kenya — The Secretary‑General of KUSU, Charles Mukhwaya, has publicly criticised vice‑chancellors of Kenya’s public universities, accusing them of governance failures and lack of transparency that are hindering progress on key issues such as collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
Key points
Mukhwaya claims that university vice-chancellors fail to accurately represent their institutions’ needs to the government and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), especially by omitting CBA‑related costs in their budget submissions.
He alleges that delayed negotiations and implementation of CBAs are a direct result of this negligence: for example, the 2021‑2025 CBA was only negotiated in 2024.
Mukhwaya pointed to leadership crises in major institutions like University of Nairobi, Moi University and Kenyatta University as symptomatic of systemic governance issues.
He emphasised that persistent industrial actions and disruptions to academic programmes stem from this endemic governance weakness.
Implications
For universities: Poor governance at senior levels could further undermine institutional stability, financial management and academic continuity.
For students: The stalemate means delayed CBAs and possible strikes, which could translate into postponed classes, examinations and graduations.
For stakeholders & government: The criticism places pressure on university councils, vice‑chancellors and the ministry to strengthen governance frameworks, transparency and accountability