Moi Universitie lecturers striking over underfunding in university sector. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
NAIROBI, Kenya – The nationwide university lecturers’ strike intensifies on Friday as more public institutions joined the industrial action, completely paralyzing academic activities across Kenya’s higher education sector.
The strike has exposed deep financial and policy disagreements between the government and academic staff unions, leaving hundreds of thousands of students in uncertainty just weeks after the commencement of the 2025/2026 academic year.
Campuses Deserted as Strike Spreads
Campuses remained deserted throughout Wednesday and Thursday with lecturers absent and no official communication provided to students regarding the resolution of the standoff.
The strike, jointly called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), centers on three primary demands: release of Sh2.73 billion for Phase Two of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), payment of Sh7.9 billion outstanding from the 2017–2021 CBA, and immediate negotiation and registration of a new CBA covering 2025–2029.
More Institutions Join Industrial Action
Initially beginning at the University of Nairobi, Technical University of Mombasa, and Kirinyaga University on September 17, the industrial action has now spread to include Moi University, Egerton University, and Maseno University, among others.
At Moi University, UASU branch secretary Busolo Wekesa declared full support for the strike, noting that the institution had failed to pay any amount under the 2021–2025 CBA while continuing to withhold arrears from the previous agreement.
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Union Officials Demand Immediate Payment
“This is not new money; it was promised and is long overdue,” Wekesa stated. “Some universities have paid, but Moi University has not. Payment must be made now.”
Wekesa also highlighted the lack of medical cover for staff over the past four months, which he said had already resulted in fatalities, accusing the university of diverting funds meant for salaries despite disbursements from the national government.
Government Appeals for Strike Suspension
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced on Wednesday that the National Treasury had released Sh2.5 billion to implement the second phase of the 2021–2025 CBA.
He appealed to lecturers to suspend the strike and allow time for the funds to reflect in university accounts. “We appeal to our lecturers to suspend the strike and allow ongoing efforts to conclude so that learning is not disrupted,” Ogamba stated.
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Unions Reject Government’s Appeal
However, union leaders immediately rejected this appeal, characterizing the disbursement as “hot air” and demanding concrete action rather than assurances.
UASU trustee Jane Michael asserted that “the government only listens to strikes,” adding that “once it begins, we no longer entertain promissory notes.”
She reiterated that negotiations without counter-offers or clear timelines were meaningless and restated the union’s demands for full settlement of the two CBAs and initiation of talks for the 2025–2029 agreement.
Systemic Underfunding Crisis Exposed
The strike has brought renewed attention to the systemic underfunding of public universities and the role of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in budgetary delays.
UASU secretary general Constantine Wesonga criticized the SRC for what he termed blatant disregard of a 2021 Labour Court order that directed the National Treasury to enhance budgetary allocations to enable universities to honor CBAs.
Warning of System Collapse
Moi University chapter chair Richard Okero emphasized that government underfunding had become unsustainable. “We admit over 150,000 students every year. Without serious investment, the system will collapse under the weight of corruption and misplaced priorities,” he warned.
The lecturers’ action follows the collapse of crisis talks that had briefly ended a three-week boycott at Moi University, with union officials stating they returned to class in good faith expecting concrete progress that never materialized.
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