Moi University students plead with Ruto to intervene as lecturers’strike stalls learning

Moi University students have appealed directly to President William Ruto to intervene and end the lecturers' strike. They warned that the prolonged disruption is threatening their education, adding financial pressure on families and leaving their academic futures uncertain.

The students, led by Moi University Students' Organisation Secretary-General Enock Kwena, said they enrolled to pursue their academic ambitions and should not suffer because of an unresolved dispute between lecturers and the government. They asked the President to prioritise the crisis in public universities, arguing that political campaigns and succession debates should not take precedence over education.

Speaking on Saturday, October 24, the student leaders expressed frustration over the continued interruption of lectures. They said students cannot plan their academic lives when they do not know when normal learning will resume.

"We cannot shout 'two-term' at the expense of not going to class. We cannot shout 'two-term' when our lecturers are not paid," Kwena said.

The students also warned that the government's handling of the strike could influence how they vote in the 2027 General Election. They said their concerns should not be dismissed as political agitation, since the disruption directly affects their education, finances and prospects of completing their programmes on schedule.

One of the student leaders said university students could use the ballot to express their dissatisfaction if the government fails to resolve the lecturers' grievances.

"If you choose not to pay our lecturers, sisi comrades, we are keeping quiet, and come 2027, we shall demonstrate through the ballot," the student said.

The nationwide strike has disrupted academic activities at public universities, with lecturers demanding the conclusion and implementation of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Lecturers at Moi University and the University of Eldoret joined the strike in early October. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has argued that lecturers should not depend on students' fees to finance their salaries, and that the government must provide the funds through the Exchequer.

At Moi University, union chapter officials have also raised concerns about outstanding obligations under the earlier 2017-2021 CBA, which they say needs attention alongside the current dispute.

The students said the strike has created extra difficulties for those who continue to incur expenses while learning is disrupted. Those in hostels or rented accommodation still pay rent, food and transport costs even when lectures are not taking place. Parents and guardians also face uncertainty over how to finance their children's education when academic calendars are unpredictable. For students nearing graduation, delays could affect entry into the job market and postgraduate studies.

They urged the government and lecturers to reach an agreement that guarantees continuity of learning.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has started a fresh conciliation process involving university staff unions and employer representatives. A meeting was scheduled for Monday, October 26, at the NSSF Building in Nairobi to discuss outstanding financial and non-financial terms in the 2025-2029 CBAs.

The talks were meant to examine the parties' proposals and pave the way for the resumption of academic activities. The students want President Ruto to use his office to help break the deadlock and ensure that lecturers' legitimate concerns are addressed so that normal learning can resume.