Teaching and learning activities in public universities across Kenya are set to be paralysed from midnight following the start of a nationwide strike by the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions and Hospitals Allied (KUDHEIHA) workers.
The strike comes after talks between the unions and the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) failed to reach an agreement on Thursday.
Lecturers rejected a proposed annual salary increment of four per cent, describing the offer as inadequate, and demanded the immediate implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The unions have also cited the failure by university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to honour a Return-to-Work Formula signed on November 5, 2025.
KUTVET suspends strike
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET) has suspended its planned strike for 14 days to allow for further negotiations with the Ministry of Education.
The union had raised concerns over what it described as a rushed review of the curriculum in TVET institutions, the handling of national examinations by the TVET Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC), arbitrary transfers and promotions, and medical cover.
KUTVET said the grievances also stem from the failure to implement agreements reached with the government.
The union warned that failure to resolve the outstanding issues within the 14-day period would see its members down their tools on October 19, 2026.
The developments could disrupt academic activities in universities and TVET institutions as unions push for the resolution of their employment and working-condition grievances.
