Statement on the Ongoing Lecturers strike and What it means for Kenyan Universities

lecturers strike in Kenya 2025 –

Introduction

The lecturers strike that began in mid-September 2025 continues to paralyze public universities across Kenya. With campuses deserted and no clear end in sight, students and academic institutions alike are grappling with a disrupted first semester. This article explores the causes, the universities affected, the stakes for students, and potential pathways forward.

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What Is Driving the Lecturers Strike?

• The strike is led by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), in partnership with the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU).
• Their key demands:
  1. Payment of KSh 7.9 billion in outstanding salary arrears from the 2017–2021 CBA.
  2. Full implementation of Phase Two of the 2021–2025 CBA.
  3. Negotiation and registration of a new collective bargaining agreement covering 2025–2029.
• Union leaders have expressed frustration over what they see as the government’s repeated failure to honor previous agreements, despite court directives.
• In response, the government released KSh 2.5 billion, but unions called it insufficient and urged a more concrete commitment.

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Universities Affected: Which Campuses Have Suspended Learning?

• The strike has crippled learning in public universities, including major institutions like:
  • Moi University
  • University of Nairobi
  • Technical University of Mombasa & Kirinyaga University
  • Egerton University and Maseno University have reported near-total halt of academic activities.
• At Kenyatta University, attempts to resume the first semester were met with clashes: a memo from the Registrar called for continuation of first-semester activities, but some lecturers resisted, leading to physical altercations.
• Technical University of Kenya (TUK) has also felt the effects: earlier in the year, the university suspended its diploma and undergraduate exams due to strike action.
• Moi University lecturers have warned that continued disruption could lead to dropouts, as students remain idle and disengaged.

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Impact on Students: A Lost Semester?

• According to reports, the strike has entered week seven, and many students fear they might lose the entire first semester.
• Most students are going home, citing a “total waste” of both time and money since learning has not resumed.
• For students who remain, the uncertainty is severe: no lectures, no exams confirmed, and no clear plan for how or when the semester will be recovered.
• At Moi University, union leaders have publicly expressed concern that the prolonged strike could force students to drop out.

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Why the Government and Universities Are Struggling to Resolve This

• There’s a funding crunch. Universities claim that despite government disbursements, some institutions are not passing on the resources to settle the CBAs fully.
• Trust issues: union leaders argue that even when funds are released, implementation is slow or piecemeal.
• Some university managements are caught in the middle — balancing fiscal constraints, political pressure, and the union’s demands.
• Students bear the brunt: while negotiations drag on, their academic calendar remains in limbo.

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Possible Scenarios and What May Come Next

1. Negotiated Settlement: If the government meets the full arrears and commits to a new CBA, classes could resume, possibly with an adjusted academic calendar or extended semester.
2. Further Escalation: The unions could escalate their industrial action (e.g., street protests), especially if talks stall.
3. Academic Recovery Plan: Universities may design a recovery plan — either by extending the semester, compressing course schedules, or organizing make-up classes.
4. Long-term Reform: This strike could catalyze deeper reforms in how university funding, CBA negotiations, and staff welfare are handled in Kenya’s higher education sector.

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Conclusion

The lecturers strike is more than just a labor dispute — it’s threatening the academic futures of hundreds of thousands of students. With first-semester learning suspended in multiple public universities, the urgency for a solution is clear.

For students, parents, and policymakers, the question is: who will absorb the cost of this lost semester? And how can stakeholders work together to ensure that education — the foundation of future growth — doesn’t become collateral damage in a standoff?

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