University lecturers plan Nairobi mega protest as salary talks collapse

University lecturers have announced a mega protest in Nairobi on Thursday 15th October, 2026, as the standoff over their pay and working conditions deepens, raising fresh concerns over when learning will resume in public universities.

The planned demonstration marks an escalation of the nationwide strike that began on October 2 after negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) failed to produce a breakthrough. Members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), alongside other university workers, are demanding a credible deal on their remuneration and terms of service before returning to the lecture halls.

The latest round of negotiations collapsed on Monday, October 12, after the unions rejected the government's proposal, arguing that it failed to adequately address their demands. UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga said the unions would sustain the industrial action and intensify pressure on the government to resolve the dispute.

The planned Thursday procession is expected to begin at 10 am at the University of Nairobi's Graduation Square, with demonstrators proceeding to Parliament Buildings, the National Treasury and the Ministry of Education offices before returning to the university. The unions have notified the police of the planned march and requested security for participants, with the protest intended to take the dispute beyond the negotiating table and directly to the government institutions the unions believe have a central role in resolving the impasse.(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/university-lecturers-plan-nairobi-mega-protest-as-salary-talks-collapse)

At the heart of the dispute is the proposed funding for the four-year CBA, with the unions questioning whether the government's offer can adequately cater for salary adjustments and other employment benefits. UASU has argued that the proposed Sh9.76 billion allocation is insufficient, pointing to the amount used to implement the previous agreement over a shorter period. The unions are also pushing for improved allowances, staff promotions, additional recruitment and measures to address the financial pressures facing university employees.

KUSU Secretary-General Dr Charles Mukhwaya has maintained that workers will not abandon their demands until an acceptable agreement is reached.

The strike has paralysed teaching and other academic activities in public universities, leaving thousands of students uncertain about the resumption of classes, examinations and graduation programmes. For students, the prolonged dispute threatens to disrupt academic calendars and could lead to extended semesters, delayed completion of studies and additional accommodation and upkeep expenses, while parents and guardians continue to support learners who are unable to attend normal classes.

The government, however, maintains that it is seeking a settlement that balances employees' demands with the financial capacity of universities and the State. Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala has said the outstanding issues can be resolved through continued engagement.

With the latest talks ending without an agreement, Thursday's protest is emerging as a fresh test of the government's ability to contain the crisis and restore normal operations in public universities, placing renewed pressure on Parliament, the Treasury and the Education Ministry to help break the deadlock as students continue to wait for a clear timeline for the resumption of learning.