Kenya’s public universities face another major disruption after university lecturers issued a strike notice set to take effect on Friday, October 2.
The Universities Academic Staff Union has accused the government, university councils and relevant agencies of failing to fully implement commitments contained in a return-to-work agreement signed in November 2025.
Union Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga warned that lecturers were prepared to withdraw their labour across public universities.
The union has raised concerns over funding, staffing, pensions and the implementation of collective bargaining commitments.
It has also rejected proposals that could leave individual universities responsible for meeting some collective bargaining agreement obligations without adequate funding from the National Treasury.
The looming strike could affect thousands of students just as universities settle into the academic calendar.
Kenya’s public universities have faced persistent financial difficulties, including large debts, delayed payments to employees and concerns over the sustainability of institutional funding.
Lecturers argue that these financial pressures have translated into understaffing, heavier workloads and uncertainty over employee benefits.
The government has repeatedly attempted to reform university financing, but disputes over funding models and staff remuneration have continued.
Attention now shifts to whether the Ministry of Education, Treasury, university councils and UASU can reach an agreement before Friday.
Without an intervention, teaching and other academic activities across public universities could be interrupted.
For students, another prolonged industrial dispute would add to concerns over delayed semesters and completion dates.
The next 24 hours could therefore prove crucial in determining whether the threatened shutdown proceeds.
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Category: Education
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