Kenya’s public universities shut as lecturers’ strike enters sixth day

With no deal in sight, more than 600,000 students remain locked out as a bitter pay dispute between lecturers and the government deepens

By Valentine Atieno

All 35 public universities in Kenya remained closed yesterday as a nationwide strike by lecturers and support staff entered its sixth day, with no sign of a resolution after talks between unions and the government collapsed over funding for a new salary agreement.

The strike, which began on Friday, October 3, was called jointly by the Universities Academic Staff Union, known as UASU, the Kenya Universities Staff Union and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers. All three unions are demanding better pay and improved working conditions, and all three say the government has shown no meaningful commitment to meeting their demands.

Lecture halls at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University and Laikipia University stood empty yesterday, with students stranded in hostels and residential halls, unable to attend classes.

At the centre of the dispute is the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the four-year contract that governs lecturers’ salaries and allowances. UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the government had refused to provide a written funding commitment for the agreement, leaving negotiations at a complete standstill.

“Universities have no money. Lecturers are overworked, understaffed and have no pension,” Wasonga said ahead of the strike. “We will be on strike as long as it takes.”

The unions are also demanding full payment of salary arrears from two previous collective bargaining agreements covering the periods 2017 to 2021 and 2021 to 2025. The government proposed paying those arrears in instalments, an offer UASU flatly rejected.

Before the strike began, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum, the employers’ body, offered a 4 percent annual salary increase. Lecturers dismissed the offer, arguing that with inflation running above 6 percent, the proposed rise would leave them worse off in real terms. UASU also rejected a government offer of KSh9.76B toward the new agreement, describing the figure as wholly inadequate.

Kenya Universities Staff Union leader Charles Mukhwaya was equally blunt, saying the government had effectively forced workers onto the streets by refusing to honour its obligations.

More than 600,000 students across the country are bearing the consequences. Many have already paid tuition fees and accommodation costs for the semester but have had no instruction since the strike began. A student at Laikipia University captured the frustration felt by many. “We paid everything, but there are no lectures,” she said. “When the strike ends, we will be forced to rush the syllabus in two weeks.” Final-year students expressed particular anxiety, with some fearing that December graduation ceremonies could be postponed if the disruption continues.

President William Ruto has suggested that many of the issues raised by the unions date back to the administration of his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, and should have been resolved years ago. The unions rejected that framing, insisting that regardless of history, the obligation to fund university education rests with the current government.

As of yesterday, no agreement had been reached, and learning remained suspended across all public universities in Kenya.

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