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As the nationwide university lecturers' strike enters its fifth week, Kenyan students are finding alternative ways to learn and generate income, highlighting the significant disruption to higher education.
The ongoing strike by public university lecturers across Kenya, now in its fifth week, has compelled students to devise innovative strategies for learning and self-sustenance. While academic calendars remain disrupted, some students are transforming this challenging period into opportunities for personal and entrepreneurial growth.
The industrial action, initiated on Thursday, September 19, 2025, by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), stems from the delayed implementation of a 2021 Labour Court order and outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Lecturers are demanding the full settlement of KSh 7.9 billion in salary arrears from the 2017-2021 CBA and the commencement of negotiations for the 2025-2029 CBA. The Ministry of Education, however, maintains that only KSh 624 million remains unpaid from the 2017-2021 CBA, based on an advisory from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). This dispute has a long history, with previous strikes in 2017, 2018, and 2021 similarly disrupting academic activities due to unfulfilled agreements.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba initially expressed optimism on Monday, October 13, 2025, that the strike would end soon, indicating that the government and UASU were nearing a deal. However, union leaders, including UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga and KUSU Secretary-General Charles Mukhwaya, have dismissed these claims, insisting that no meaningful dialogue has occurred and that the strike will continue until their demands are fully met.
A recent court ruling declared the ongoing strike illegal, a position echoed by both the Ministry of Education and university administrations. Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, directed public universities to enforce internal policies on absconding duty, noting that striking staff are aware of the court's position. Some universities, such as the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), have already taken disciplinary action, with over 40 academic staff members interdicted for participating in the strike.
The Ministry of Education is also set to seek further court direction regarding the prolonged strike. The Employment and Labour Relations Court had previously, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, suspended the strike and directed both parties to resume negotiations. Despite this, lecturers have remained defiant, arguing that the government has consistently failed to honour agreements.
Students are bearing the brunt of the prolonged standoff, facing delayed graduation timelines, incomplete syllabi, and uncertainty about their academic futures. Many have exhausted their upkeep and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds. On Monday, October 14, 2025, students from the University of Nairobi, led by the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) Secretary General Elisha Wasike, staged protests demanding the immediate resumption of classes and the release of funds owed to lecturers.
In response to the disruption, some students are turning to entrepreneurship and honing their talents. For instance, Kelvin Wala, a final-year student at Multimedia University, has converted his room into a music recording studio, producing tracks for local and international artists. Other students have ventured into businesses like water supply.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) initiated a nationwide strike on September 19, 2025. The unions are demanding the settlement of KSh 7.9 billion in arrears from the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the negotiation of the 2025-2029 CBA. The Ministry of Education, citing the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), states that KSh 624 million remains unpaid from the 2017-2021 CBA.
The prolonged strike poses significant risks to Kenya's higher education system, including further delays in academic calendars, diminished learning outcomes, and potential job market disadvantages for graduates. The Vice Chancellors' Committee of Public Universities Chairperson, Prof. Daniel Mugendi, has indicated that affected universities may be forced to extend their semester dates. The crisis also highlights systemic issues within the education sector, such as inadequate funding and a lack of effective grievance resolution mechanisms.
Despite the Ministry of Education's directive for lecturers to resume work following a court order, many academic staff remain defiant, insisting that teaching will not resume until financial obligations are met. There have also been instances of clashes between lecturers who complied with university directives to resume classes and those who opposed it, as seen at Kenyatta University on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The exact amount owed to lecturers remains a point of contention between the unions and the government.
The upcoming court ruling on Wednesday, December 11, 2025, is a critical point that could significantly influence the direction of the strike. Further negotiations between the unions and the government, particularly regarding the disputed KSh 7.9 billion arrears and the 2025-2029 CBA, will be closely watched. The Ministry of Education's enforcement of disciplinary actions against striking lecturers and the response from the unions will also be key developments.
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