NAIROBI, KENYA – A Kenyatta University student has been suspended indefinitely for allegedly inciting fellow students to protest over the prolonged national lecturers' strike that has crippled learning in public universities for seven weeks. The suspension of Steve Loch Odiwuor highlights the growing frustration among students caught in the standoff between the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the government.

The nationwide strike, which began on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, was called by UASU to demand the payment of KSh 7.9 billion in salary arrears from the 2017–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The industrial action has affected over 600,000 students, leading to the suspension of academic activities and, in some cases, the closure of university campuses.

Student Leader Penalised for Activism

Mr. Odiwuor, a well-known student figure, received a suspension letter dated Friday, October 24, 2025, from the university's registrar, Bernard Kivunge. The letter accused him of organising illegal processions, making unauthorised public statements, and inciting students between October 17 and October 22. Odiwuor maintains he was peacefully addressing the administration's silence on the way forward for stranded students. His suspension, pending an appearance before the Students Disciplinary Committee, has barred him from accessing university premises.

Nationwide University Shutdown

The strike has had a significant impact on higher education across Kenya. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) announced the temporary suspension of all academic activities on Saturday, November 1, 2025, requiring students to vacate the campus by Sunday, November 2. Other institutions, including Egerton University, Pwani University, and Karatina University, have also suspended operations. The disruption has forced many students into odd jobs to manage unexpected financial strains while others face idleness.

The KSh 7.9 Billion Impasse

The core of the dispute is the KSh 7.9 billion owed to university staff. UASU Secretary-General Dr. Constantine Wasonga has consistently stated that lecturers would not return to work until the full amount is paid as a lump sum. The government, through Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, initially proposed paying the arrears in three installments, an offer the union rejected. After weeks of deadlock and parliamentary intervention, the government revised its offer to two installments.

A Breakthrough and a Return to Class

After 49 days of industrial action, UASU, alongside the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals & Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), officially called off the strike on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The decision followed the signing of a return-to-work formula with the government. The agreement stipulates that the KSh 7.9 billion will be paid in two tranches. The first installment of approximately KSh 3.88 billion is to be paid by December 31, 2025, with the second half scheduled for July 2026. As part of the deal, negotiations for the 2025–2029 CBA are to be concluded within 30 days. Universities are now expected to revise their academic calendars to compensate for the seven weeks of lost learning time.