The nationwide lecturers’ strike has entered its sixth week, deepening the crisis in public universities as learning remains completely paralysed.The Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) have rejected the government’s latest Sh3.1 billion offer, terming it insufficient and a mockery of their demands.
Lecturers have been pushing for the full implementation of the 2023–2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), higher salaries, and improved working conditions.However, negotiations with the government have dragged on without a tangible breakthrough, leaving thousands of students anxious about their academic progress.Union officials argue that the proposed amount falls far below what is needed to bridge existing salary gaps and address long-standing funding shortages in public universities.
They insist that without a better offer, the strike will continue indefinitely.“This offer does not reflect the rightful value of university dons or the economic realities they face,” said a UASU representative. “We shall not return to class until our demands are met.”Meanwhile, students across campuses are growing increasingly frustrated as weeks turn into months.Many have already paid tuition fees and rent, yet their studies remain suspended. Some final-year students fear delayed graduation, internship placement challenges, and financial strain.
“Hii semester imelala,” lamented a student from the University of Nairobi, expressing the widespread feeling that the academic calendar has ground to a halt with no hope in sight.Parents, too, are calling on the government and unions to strike a deal urgently, warning that the continued disruption could have long-lasting effects on higher education quality and credibility.
Education stakeholders warn that every additional day of the standoff pushes universities deeper into a backlog, potentially forcing a complete overhaul of the academic calendar.As both sides remain firm on their positions, the fate of university education in Kenya now hangs in the balance, with thousands waiting anxiously for a resolution that still feels far away.
