University of Nairobi students have issued the government with a 72-hour ultimatum to resolve the ongoing lecturers’ strike, warning that they will take to the streets if their demands are not addressed.
The University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA), led by its president Ahmed Rashid, announced the decision on Friday, October 16, expressing frustration over the continued disruption of learning in public universities.
The students have given the government until Wednesday, October 21, to find a solution to the dispute, which has left thousands of learners uncertain about their academic progress.
Students Threaten to Join Protests
Speaking during a press briefing, Rashid said students would mobilize and march to the Ministry of Education if the government failed to resolve the impasse within the stipulated period.
The association accused the government of failing to address lecturers’ grievances, arguing that students should not continue suffering the consequences of a dispute between university staff and authorities.
The student leaders said the prolonged strike had disrupted normal academic activities, leaving learners frustrated and concerned about their future.
They maintained that the government needed to engage the striking lecturers and reach an agreement to allow learning to resume.
Strike Disrupts Exams and Graduation Plans
The ongoing industrial action has affected academic programmes across public universities, with some students unable to sit their scheduled examinations.
UNSA Chief of Staff Michael Soi highlighted the situation facing pharmacy students, some of whom were expected to complete their examinations but have been unable to proceed because of the strike.
The association’s secretary general, Tony Ochieng, also raised concerns about the impact of prolonged inactivity on students’ mental wellbeing and social lives.
Beyond missed lectures and examinations, students continue to face financial pressure from accommodation, food and other living expenses despite the disruption to their studies.
Some learners have reportedly returned home as uncertainty over the academic calendar continues, while others face possible delays in completing their courses and graduating as scheduled.
The students have also called for clarity on the university funding model, adding another concern to the challenges facing learners in public institutions.
Lecturers Maintain Pressure on Government
The students’ ultimatum comes amid an ongoing dispute between university lecturers and the government over employment agreements and outstanding financial obligations.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) are among the unions involved in the industrial action, which began on October 2, 2026.
The lecturers are demanding the implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), alongside the settlement of outstanding salary arrears and other employment-related commitments.
Despite calls for dialogue, negotiations have yet to produce a lasting solution that would restore normal teaching activities.
With the students’ Wednesday deadline approaching, pressure is mounting on the government and university staff unions to reach an agreement.
If the dispute remains unresolved, University of Nairobi students have warned that they will join demonstrations, potentially widening the impact of the strike on learning in public universities.
