The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has opposed a reported proposal by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to increase the mandatory retirement age for university lecturers from 65 to 70 years, arguing that the union was not consulted before the proposal emerged.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, August 4, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the proposal had taken the union by surprise and warned that any changes to the terms and conditions of service for academic staff should only be introduced following consultations with key stakeholders.

“We were not consulted. This proposal has come as a surprise to us,” Wasonga said.

He maintained that decisions affecting university lecturers should involve structured engagement with the union, public universities and relevant government agencies before implementation.

The reported proposal has sparked debate within Kenya’s higher education sector, with UASU cautioning that extending the retirement age could affect staff succession planning and limit employment opportunities for younger academics entering the profession.

According to the union, Kenya continues to produce qualified master’s and doctoral graduates who are seeking opportunities in public universities. Delaying retirements, UASU argues, could slow recruitment and career progression for early-career lecturers at a time when institutions are expected to strengthen teaching and research capacity.

Beyond opposing the retirement age proposal, UASU also called for an overhaul of the payment structure for part-time lecturers, saying many continue to shoulder significant teaching responsibilities despite receiving low and delayed remuneration.

Wasonga said reviewing the compensation framework for part-time academic staff would help improve morale, enhance the quality of instruction and address long-standing concerns over inequitable pay in public universities.

“Part-time lecturers play a vital role in sustaining academic programmes and deserve fair and timely remuneration,” Wasonga said.

The reported proposal is understood to have originated from discussions within the Public Service Commission on retaining experienced professionals in public service for longer. Supporters of the proposal argue that senior professors and lecturers possess valuable institutional knowledge, research expertise and mentorship experience that universities should continue benefiting from beyond the current retirement age.

However, UASU insists that retaining experienced academics should not come at the expense of creating opportunities for the next generation of scholars.

The debate comes at a time when Kenya’s public universities continue to face financial pressures, staffing shortages and increasing student enrolment, with stakeholders calling for broader reforms in higher education financing, recruitment and staff welfare.

Currently, the standard retirement age for university lecturers in Kenya is 65 years, although some institutions retain distinguished professors on fixed-term contracts or emeritus arrangements after retirement, subject to university policies and governing regulations.

As of Tuesday, the Public Service Commission had not publicly responded to UASU’s objections or clarified the status of the reported proposal. It also remains unclear whether the proposal has been formally adopted or is still under consideration.

The union says it is ready to engage the PSC and other stakeholders on any reforms affecting university staff but maintains that consultation must remain central to any policy changes in the higher education sector.