UASU UoN Chapter officials during a press conference on August 3, 2026. /SCREENGRAB
Academic staff at the University of Nairobi have opposed new Public Service Commission (PSC) retirement guidelines, warning they could worsen lecturer shortages, disrupt teaching and deepen the institution's staffing crisis.
In a March circular, followed by an addendum in April 2026, PSC reduced the retirement age for professors from 74 to 70 years and that of senior lecturers and other academic staff from 74 to 65 years and below.
PSC CEO Paul Famba said the changes were made in line with Section 70(1)(c) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, 2020.
The commission said the revised framework was intended to promote uniformity and compliance across the public service while retaining experienced academics for longer to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
However, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) University of Nairobi chapter said the policy risks crippling the teaching workforce at Kenya's oldest university.
UASU UoN chapter secretary general George Osanjo said the university has already been grappling with a staffing crisis after freezing recruitment of new lecturers in 2020 due to financial constraints.
"The University of Nairobi had about 2,000 lecturers. In 2026, this number has reduced by nearly 60 per cent. That tells you we have a reduction of about 800 lecturers," Osanjo said.
Speaking at the university grounds on August 3, Osanjo said the current workforce of about 1,200 lecturers could further reduce by approximately 40 per cent if the new PSC retirement policy is implemented, leaving about 720 lecturers.
Under the new framework, academic and research staff will retire between the ages of 60 and 75, depending on their position and whether they are registered as persons living with disability.
Professors and research professors employed on permanent and pensionable terms will retire at 70 years, while those living with disability will retire at 75 years.
Associate professors, associate research professors, senior lecturers and senior research fellows will retire at 65 years, rising to 70 years for those registered as persons living with disability.
Lecturers, research fellows, assistant lecturers, tutorial fellows and junior research fellows will retire at 60 years, regardless of whether they are serving on permanent, pensionable or contractual terms.
Those living with disability will retire at 65 years.
PSC has also capped the retirement age for research scientists with PhDs at 65 years, with an extension to 70 years for persons living with disability. The same age limits apply to scientists with master's degrees and relevant publications.
Non-teaching staff in universities and research institutions will continue to retire at 60 years, while those living with disability will retire at 65.
According to UASU, the revised retirement guidelines will have a ripple effect beyond lecture halls.
The union said a reduction in the number of lecturers would pile more pressure on the university's pension scheme, which is already facing an Sh11 billion deficit in outstanding pension contributions.
The dispute shifted to the courts earlier in the year, where UASU unsuccessfully sought to stop implementation of the policy.
In March, the union moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court, which temporarily suspended implementation of the circular pending further directions.
However, in a ruling delivered on July 29, 2026, the court upheld the PSC directive introducing the new retirement age framework.
The court rejected UASU's argument that lecturers had a legitimate expectation of continuing to serve beyond the retirement limits set by PSC.
UASU argued that the changes interfered with existing collective bargaining agreements and had been introduced without adequate consultation with stakeholders.
The union maintained that some senior academic staff were entitled to continue serving under existing agreements and long-standing practice within their respective universities.
It further argued that PSC had exceeded its mandate by altering retirement arrangements that had already been negotiated.
In reaching its decision, the court relied on a precedent established in the retirement-age dispute involving former Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal, holding that legitimate expectation cannot override clear legal provisions governing retirement in the public service.
Justice Jacob Gakeri ruled that where the law grants PSC authority to determine retirement policy, employees cannot rely on past practice or expectations to defeat a valid statutory directive.
The judge also affirmed that PSC is the legally mandated body responsible for formulating and overseeing human resource policies within the public service.
Despite the ruling, UASU officials warned that implementation of the framework could disrupt teaching, examinations, postgraduate supervision and ongoing research programmes.
"These decisions should be informed by research. What problem did they realise that they want to solve yet they are introducing a huge problem for the country," UASU UoN chapter organising secretary Richard Bosire said.
The union wants PSC to withdraw the directive and develop a new framework in consultation with university academics that recognises the unique staffing needs of higher education institutions.
UASU argued that unlike the wider public service, where promotions may take about three years, advancement in academia depends on lengthy and rigorous milestones, including peer review, external evaluation, research output, supervision and the accumulation of academic points over many years.
"Public Service should understand how universities work. All these people here are PhD holders, they can tell you how long it has taken to get their PhDs. Here it's research output, supervision, it's teaching, it's attracting funds," UoN UASU chapter chairperson Ben Nyachoga said.
PSC, however, dismissed claims that the policy was introduced without stakeholder involvement.
"UASU's claim that there was no public participation is incorrect considering the union was invited and participated in several stakeholder forums together with other parties, which culminated in a decision following the last stakeholder meeting held at Machakos University in December 2025," Famba said.
According to PSC, the changes are intended to prevent the loss of critical skills, strengthen research and innovation, improve postgraduate supervision, and ensure universities continue to benefit from the knowledge and experience of seasoned academics and professionals.
While PSC maintains the changes will strengthen universities by retaining experienced academics and improving research and postgraduate supervision, UASU insists the policy will instead accelerate staff shortages and strain already stretched institutions unless it is reviewed.
