Kenyatta University (KU) has warned students against a fake memo claiming that normal academic activities would resume on Monday, October 26, 2026, cautioning them against relying on unverified information circulating on social media as the nationwide university lecturers’ strike continues.
In a clarification issued on Friday, October 23, the university said the document had not originated from the Office of the Registrar (Academic) or any other authorised university office.
“All Kenyatta University students are advised to disregard the internal memo circulating on social media regarding the resumption of classes on Monday, 26th October 2026. The document is fake and did not originate from the Office of the Registrar (Academic) or any official university authority,” the university stated.
KU directed students to obtain official information about academic activities through its website, [ku.ac.ke](https://www.ku.ac.ke/), and verified social media accounts.
The university did not confirm October 26 as the date for the resumption of classes, leaving students without official confirmation of when normal academic operations would resume.
What the fake memo claimed
The circulating document purported to announce the resumption of normal academic operations on Monday, October 26, and instructed students to return to campus and follow timetables issued by their respective schools and departments.
It claimed to have been issued by the Office of the Registrar (Academic) and bore the name of Acting Registrar (Academic) Prof Perez Onono-Okelo.
The memo also urged students to consult the university website and other official communication channels for updates, while encouraging them to observe university regulations and participate in teaching, learning, research and community service.
However, KU disowned the document and asked students not to act on its contents.
The clarification is particularly important for students who may be making travel, accommodation and financial arrangements in anticipation of returning to campus.
Students have been advised to wait for authenticated communication from the university before making decisions based on the purported resumption date.
Ogamba urges lecturers to resume teaching
The university's warning comes amid a nationwide lecturers' strike that has disrupted learning in public universities, leaving students uncertain about when teaching and other academic activities will return to normal.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has appealed to university lecturers to return to work, saying the government remains willing to negotiate with staff unions over outstanding issues under the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking during the 10th graduation ceremony at Thika Technical Training Institute on Friday, October 23, Ogamba maintained that the government had cleared historical salary arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs.
“For our universities, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to staff welfare by clearing all arrears under the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements. As we speak today, there are no historical arrears under any Collective Bargaining Agreements,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary urged lecturers to resume teaching as negotiations continued, warning that prolonged industrial action could undermine students' education and disrupt the academic calendar.
He said the government was prepared to engage university staff unions to resolve the remaining disagreements.
“My plea to our university staff is this: let us not unduly interrupt the education of our students over matters that the Government has already demonstrated willingness and readiness to address,” Ogamba said.
University unions reject Sh12 billion offer
The strike stems from disagreements over the implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA and unresolved demands by university staff unions.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) issued a seven-day nationwide strike notice, with lecturers in public universities beginning their industrial action on October 2, 2026.
In its September 24 announcement, UASU accused university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury of failing to honour a return-to-work formula signed on November 5, 2025.
The dispute escalated after UASU and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) reportedly rejected a Sh12 billion government offer intended to help resolve the standoff and facilitate lecturers' return to work.
The unions maintained that the proposal did not adequately address their outstanding demands and insisted on the implementation of agreed terms under the current CBA.
UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga described the government's counteroffer as inadequate.
“The counteroffer from the government is awfully inadequate, and we have rejected it in total,” Wasonga said.
The unions have also faulted the government for failing to present what they consider an adequate financial counterproposal during negotiations over the current CBA.
Despite the government's appeal for lecturers to resume work, the dispute has continued to create uncertainty for students in public universities.
Students caught between strike and uncertain resumption dates
The conflicting messages highlight the difficulties students face when trying to establish reliable information about the reopening of universities during an industrial dispute.
For Kenyatta University students, the immediate concern is whether normal teaching and learning activities will resume and when the institution will issue an official timetable.
The university's clarification makes clear that the circulating October 26 notice should not be treated as an authorised reopening announcement.
Until KU issues a formal update, students should rely on verified university communication channels rather than unofficial memos shared through social media and messaging platforms.
The wider resolution of the lecturers' strike remains critical to restoring normal academic operations across public universities and limiting further disruption to students' studies.
Reader Discussion (0)
Sign in to comment