Public universities workers have accused their employers of withholding Sh3.9 billion meant for their salaries in secret bank accounts.

The University Academic Staff Union and the University Non-Teaching Staff Union were yesterday enraged by the refusal of universities administrations to ensure the money is reflected on their November salary slips.

The unions yesterday demanded that the government releases the cash in the next five days failure to which they will lead their members to a strike that might end up disrupting exams and graduation ceremonies in public universities.

Uasu secretary general Muga K'olale condemned public universities for sitting on the Sh3.9 billion released by government on October 26 following the September 20 collective bargaining agreement that ended their strike.

"From tomorrow (today) the unions will start to sensitise members to prepare for a strike that will persist until the money is released," K'olale said.

The threat by the two unions to resort to a strike was reached yesterday after a national executive council meeting in Nairobi.