Lecturers' Strike Enters Third Week, Learning Paralyzed

The ongoing lecturers' strike in Kenyan public universities has entered its third week, prompting strong criticism from Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino. Speaking via his official X account on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Owino faulted the government for its delayed response to the striking dons' demands, which he stated have brought learning to a standstill in higher education institutions across the country.

The core of the dispute, according to Owino, is the government's failure to implement an existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the lecturers. He highlighted the strike as "one of the worst crises in years," leading to the disruption of research and leaving thousands of students in limbo.

Context of the Dispute

The strike, now in its third week, stems from what lecturers describe as chronic underfunding of universities and the government's persistent failure to honour CBAs. This has been a recurring issue in Kenya's higher education sector, with similar industrial actions witnessed in previous years over unmet salary and allowance increments. The current strike has significantly impacted the academic calendar, raising concerns among students, parents, and university administrations.

Stakeholder Concerns and Policy Implications

Analysts suggest that the prolonged strike and the ensuing public debate could influence near-term public discourse and policy execution. Stakeholders are pressing for greater clarity on the timelines for resolving the dispute, the financial costs involved in meeting the lecturers' demands, and the safeguards to prevent similar disruptions in the future. The Ministry of Education and university management boards are expected to engage with the lecturers' unions to find a lasting solution.

Evidence and Data

• Duration of Strike: Three weeks as of October 1, 2025.
• Key Grievance: Non-implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Impact: Paralysed learning, disrupted research, thousands of students stranded in public universities.
• Source of Criticism: Embakasi East MP Babu Owino via his official X account.

Risks and Implications

The continued strike poses significant risks to Kenya's higher education system. Prolonged closures could lead to a backlog in academic programmes, affect student enrolment, and potentially compromise the quality of education. Furthermore, it could damage the reputation of public universities and lead to a brain drain as lecturers seek more stable employment opportunities. Economically, the disruption affects the productivity of a key sector and has ripple effects on related industries.

What to Watch

Attention will be on the government's next steps in addressing the lecturers' demands and whether a concrete timeline for implementing the CBA will be established. The engagement between lecturers' unions and government representatives will be crucial. Observers will also be keen to see if the strike escalates or if a resolution is reached in the coming days, allowing students to resume their studies.