University of Nairobi students have issued the government a 72-hour ultimatum to resolve the ongoing lecturers’ strike, warning that they will take to the streets if the dispute remains unresolved.
The University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA), led by its president, Ahmed Rashid, issued the warning on Friday, October 16, 2026, saying students would mobilise for demonstrations if the government failed to address the lecturers’ grievances by Wednesday, October 21.
The students’ threat adds pressure on the Ministry of Education to find a lasting solution to the industrial dispute, which has disrupted teaching and other academic activities in public universities across Kenya.
Rashid said the students would march to the Ministry of Education if the deadline passed without a satisfactory response.
The association maintains that students should not continue bearing the consequences of a dispute between university staff and the government, particularly when their education, examinations and graduation plans are at stake.
Students raise concerns over delayed examinations
The ongoing strike has left students uncertain about when normal learning will resume, with some facing delays in completing their academic programmes.
UNSA officials have highlighted the plight of pharmacy students and other learners who were expected to sit examinations but have been unable to proceed because of the disruption.
The students have also raised concerns about the financial burden of remaining on campus without attending classes. Accommodation, food, transport and other living expenses continue to accumulate even when lectures are not taking place.
Some learners have reportedly returned home as the uncertainty surrounding the academic calendar continues.
UNSA Secretary-General Tony Ochieng warned that prolonged inactivity was affecting students’ welfare, while the association’s leadership called for urgent intervention to prevent further academic and social consequences.
The students are also demanding clarity on university funding, arguing that the government must address concerns affecting both lecturers and learners.
Lecturers insist on collective bargaining agreement
The university lecturers’ strike began on October 2, 2026, after negotiations over their employment terms failed to produce an agreement acceptable to the unions.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) are among the unions involved in the industrial dispute.
At the centre of the disagreement are negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), alongside salary and allowance adjustments and outstanding financial obligations.
The unions have maintained that they will not resume normal duties until their demands are addressed.
Lecturers have also raised concerns about staffing shortages, workload, research funding and the employment terms of part-time academic staff.
The government, meanwhile, has urged the lecturers to return to work and pursue negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues.
However, previous discussions have failed to end the standoff, leaving students increasingly frustrated by the continued interruption of their studies.
Wednesday deadline puts pressure on education authorities
The students’ ultimatum signals the possibility of demonstrations joining the existing industrial dispute if the government fails to reach an agreement with the lecturers.
UNSA has called for urgent engagement between the Ministry of Education and the striking university staff, insisting that the academic interests of learners must be protected.
The association’s concerns reflect the wider impact of prolonged university strikes, including missed lectures, delayed examinations, uncertainty over graduation dates and additional financial pressure on families.
Students say they want a clear resolution rather than continued uncertainty over when they will return to class.
With the stated deadline set for Wednesday, October 21, attention is now focused on whether the government and university staff unions can reach an agreement before students begin demonstrations.
A further escalation could deepen disruptions in public universities, particularly for learners approaching the completion of their studies.
The immediate priority remains finding a negotiated solution that addresses the lecturers’ grievances while allowing students to resume learning and complete their academic programmes.
Unless the impasse is resolved, the education sector faces the prospect of additional protests and further disruption to the university academic calendar.
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