Over 30,000 university staff have a reason to smile after the Labour court issued them the go-ahead to agree on Ksh. 8.8 billion pay rise, as issues of retirement age and annual increment are being looked into.

Justice Maureen Onyango directed that parties that signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2017-2021 October last year, to come together and agree on how to properly use the Sh8.8 billion that the government gave out.

The Judge directed that the consent agreement be recorded in court on March 17.

University Academic Staff Union (UASU) on Thursday said they will be seeking a meeting with the joint negotiating team to decide on the implementation formular as directed by the court.

Constantine Wesonga, The UASU Secretary-General said that they are ready for the meeting as directed by the judge.

The National government had opposed the new retirement age proposed in the CBA. Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki said that the CBA should be inline with the requirements of national values and principles of governance and it should also be according to the constitution.

Through the State Counsel Amelia Chesiyna, The AG argued that the expectation of Uasu members that their retirement age is 75 years conflicts with the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for Public Service dated May (2016).

The Human Resource Policies And Procedures Manual for Public Service states that the required retirement age shall be 60 years and 65 years for persons living with a disability