A nationwide strike by university lecturers and support staff that began on Wednesday has rocked the start of the academic journey for first-year students who have barely settled into campus life.
The students, who reported late last month and early this month, are now grappling with the abrupt halt to lectures, practicals, and other learning activities.
Gloria Anyango, a student at Maseno University in Kisumu County said she has decided to focus on her business as the strike continues.
“Of course it is sad that when lecturers strike commences students are left unattended to. However, I take this opportunity to attend to my mitumba shop until lectures resume,” she said.
Melvin Atieno, a first year student pursuing a degree in Education Arts, said that with the strike, she is forced to go back to her room to complete assignments.
At the Coast, first-year students from the Technical University of Mombasa and Pwani University called on the national government to immediately address the lecturers and workers’ grievances so that learning can resume.
Flavina Namkuru, a student from Pwani University, told the Nation that their 7am virtual class was cancelled due to the strike, with students receiving a message in the morning.
“We did not now that it was that serious until Wednesday morning when we were told that there are no classes. It is a challenge to us now that we are barely two weeks old and we were just getting used to our timetable,” she said.
Another student, Elizabeth Akinyi, said they did not expect the strike. “For us, it was about coming to learn and we did not expect to be caught up within the strike this early. We are not used to this and it is stressful,” she said.
Vincent Obondo, the former president of Pwani University Student Association, faulted the government for failing students and called for a quick intervention on the issue. He recalled last year when lecturers downed tools for about two months, affecting the students.
According to Mr Obondo, the strike would lead to many students being idle, endangering their lives even on the beaches. “We are afraid that we might lose many lives because the only place the students will go to relax is on the beach,” he said
Mr Obondo said other students are set to graduate in the next three weeks, and the university might alter the calendar if the strike continues.
Mr Robinson Kibet, Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) secretary from the University of Eldoret chapter, said, “Parents should recall their children because no learning activities will take place until the government gives us our money.”
The striking lecturers and university workers have accused the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) of misleading the government.
The strike has been called to demand release of Sh2.73 billion from Phase Two of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Sh7.9 billion outstanding from the 2017-2021 CBA, and negotiation and implementation of the 2025-2029 CBA.
A last-minute communiqué from Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, announcing the release of the funds, was dismissed by the striking dons as a trick to get them back to work.
“We are tired of empty promises and are going to remain on strike until money is in our pockets. That is the only language that the government understands,” said Maloba Wekesa, the secretary of the Universities Academic Staff Union Uasu, University of Nairobi (UoN) chapter.
In his communique on Wednesday, CS Ogamba said that the government is committed to honour its obligations as negotiated under a return-to-work formula during last year’s strike.
“We gave a seven-day strike notice after waiting for three months to be paid. Why should anybody wait until the eve of our strike to request that they be given another two weeks to pay? Those are games,” said Dr Wekesa.
He noted that upon taking office, the Kenya Kwanza government pledged to negotiate, register, and implement CBAs without delays or arrears, but the reverse has been the case.
Uasu accused the SRC, the Ministry of Education, and the National Treasury of defying binding court orders, including one by the Employment and Labour Relations Court that directed additional budgetary allocation for the full implementation of the 2017–2021 CBA.
“The reason why we have launched this strike is because the government has failed to pay us. The only thing I got yesterday was a letter. Dons do not eat letters,” said Uasu Secretary-General, Dr Constantine Wasonga, when he launched the strike at Maseno University.
The secretary-general of Kusu, Charles Mukhwaya, urged the striking staff not to resume duty until all their demands are met.
“We gave our proposals to the government months ago but they have never given a counter-offer for the 2025-29 CBA. So, what are we supposed to do?” he asked.
An attempt by the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPCCF) to convene a negotiation meeting on Friday was turned down with the unions terming it a ‘PR stunt’.
In the 2025-2029 CBA, Uasu is pushing for upward adjustments of salaries and allowances as well as expanded retirement and death benefits.
If granted, graduate assistants would see their basic pay rise from Sh63,647 to Sh86,594, while professors could earn up to Sh305,610 before allowances, with top earners projected to take home nearly Sh1 million by 2029.
The package also includes a Sh60,000 commuter allowance, improved housing benefits, new ICT and book allowances, an extended retirement age of up to 74 years, death benefits covering 96 months’ salary plus Sh80,000 for burial expenses.
The basic salary and house allowances for University staff are determined by unions and Inter-IPUCCF on the advice of the SRC, and with the concurrence of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and the National Treasury.
The unions said they will sustain the industrial action until the government releases the money.
“We are ready to shut down all activities at the institutions to demand for the immediate release of our dues in full. We shall not return to work until the money hits our accounts,” said Dr Philip Chebunet, the secretary-general of Uasu’s University of Eldoret chapter.
Dr Busolo Wegesa, Uasu secretary Moi University chapter, said members will not resume duty until they receive their money.
“All that we are demanding is implementation of the remaining clauses of the CBA and payment of our dues through the exchequer and not in instalments,” he said.
Wycliffe Otieno, the Kusu secretary-general Pwani University chapter, said the government had failed to address their issues but was holding parties at State House.
At Technical University of Mombasa, Uasu official Prof Josiah Odalo said no learning is taking place. He blamed the new university funding model for the crisis facing that institutions of higher learning are facing.
“The funding model can’t and will not cure the financial crisis facing universities. What the government is doing is translating the responsibilities to the parents … what used to come in form of capitation. If you look at the fees they are talking about, for instance Sh400,000 for medicine with the new revised model, they are saying students will pay from Sh11,000 to Sh75,000, who pays the rest?” asked Prof Odalo.
He said vice chancellors are also agonising over the revised funding model due to the financial crises in their institutions.
“After months of waiting, appeals, and patience, we are left with no alternative but to take decisive action under the leadership of our respective unions (Uasu, Kusu and Kudheiha). Beginning September 17, 2025, the unions officially launched a strike,” said Prof Odalo.
The Uasu official said the government has partially settled the arrears from the 2017-2021 National CBA.
“The matter of full implementation has not been resolved by the government despite the Court of Appeal ruling on 28/03/2025 as relates to ELRC No. 1, 2 and 3 of 2020 directing that the arrears be settled as per the CВА provisions,” he added at a press conference in Mombasa.
Prof Odalo further blamed the state for failure to negotiate and conclude the 2025-2029 National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in defiance of the return-to-work formula of 2024, which gave the timeframe on the CBA negotiations and final registration.
“In light of these unresolved issues, we are left with no other choice but to withdraw our labour until our legitimate demands are addressed. This is not a decision we take lightly,” he said.