- Ben Israel has appealed to President William Ruto to convene urgent talks over the looming university strike.
- He warns that another prolonged disruption could affect students, graduation schedules and financially burden parents.
- The appeal comes after UASU issued a seven-day strike notice over the stalled 2025–2029 CBA.
A parent, educator and unionist has urged President William Ruto to intervene urgently to avert a looming strike by public university lecturers and staff.
In a letter dated September 26, 2026, Ben Israel of Kijabe, Kiambu County, appealed to President Ruto to convene an emergency national dialogue involving the Ministry of Education, National Treasury, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and university unions.
Mr Israel said a nationwide strike by members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) would further disrupt learning in public universities, which he said were still recovering from previous academic interruptions.
He warned that prolonged industrial action could derail graduation schedules and delay students’ entry into the workforce.
“Allowing another strike to paralyse these institutions will cause severe harm to millions of students and families,” Mr Israel said in the letter.
He also raised concern over the financial burden that prolonged disruptions could place on parents, particularly through additional accommodation expenses and other costs associated with extended stays in universities.
According to Mr Israel, continued academic uncertainty could also affect the wellbeing of students and undermine Kenya’s competitiveness in higher education and research.
CBA and university funding
He identified the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), delayed salaries and university funding as some of the key issues requiring urgent intervention.
Mr Israel said previous efforts involving ad-hoc conciliation committees had largely provided temporary solutions without addressing the underlying challenges facing public universities.
He urged the President to bring together the relevant government agencies and union leadership to negotiate a sustainable funding framework for public universities.
“By steering a sustainable, long-term funding framework for public universities, you can avert this crisis before learning grinds to a halt,” he said.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns over industrial relations in public universities, with unions and the government expected to address outstanding issues surrounding staff welfare, remuneration and implementation of negotiated agreements.
Mr Israel said preventing another prolonged disruption would protect students, ease pressure on families and help safeguard the continuity of teaching, research and other university programmes.
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UASU officials during a previous engagement on university staff welfare and remuneration. A parent and educator has appealed to President William Ruto to intervene as another strike looms in public universities.
By Philip Koech
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