- The Bomet Parents Association has urged the government to address university lecturers’ grievances to end the disruption of learning.
- Lecturers under UASU, KUSU and KUDHEA have launched industrial action over delayed CBA implementation, university funding and employee payment issues.
- KUSU’s Bernard Ojiambo has confirmed that teaching and learning have been paralysed at Egerton University, with unions demanding release of over Sh100 billion owed to universities.
The strike by lecturers at public universities has raised concern among parents, with the Bomet Parents Association urging the government to address the lecturers’ grievances to safeguard learning.
Branch Parents Association Chapter Chairperson Stephen Koskey said the strike could disrupt learning and expose students to idleness, which he warned could contribute to criminal activities.
Addressing the press in Bomet town, Koskey urged the government to heed the lecturers’ demands, which he described as genuine. “The government should listen to the lecturers and address their genuine grievances. They have worked hard for many years and should not continue to be neglected,” Koskey said.
He said prolonged disruption of learning could have wider consequences for students and their families, urging the government and university unions to find a lasting solution. Koskey also welcomed increased security at Bomet University, which has more than 11,000 students, saying enhanced security was necessary as students remained idle during the strike. “We are happy that security has been beefed up at Bomet University. With more than 11,000 students, idleness can expose some of them to criminal activities,” he said.
A spot check showed that learning had been disrupted at Bomet and Kabianga universities, among other public institutions, as lecturers stayed away from classrooms.
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Lecturers at public universities across the country have begun industrial action over grievances relating to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), university funding and the payment of university employees. At Egerton University, KUSU branch secretary Bernard Ojiambo said teaching and learning had been paralysed following the commencement of the strike. “Today officially we are launching a mega strike here at Egerton. Learning and teaching are totally paralysed,” Ojiambo told union members.
He said the strike followed delays in negotiating and implementing the 2025-2029 CBA. Ojiambo said university unions had signed a return-to-work formula on November 5, 2025, which provided for the CBA to be concluded and registered at the Employment and Labour Relations Court within 30 days.
The unions are also demanding implementation of previous CBAs and changes to the current university funding model. They have called for university employees to be paid through a centralised system and placed on the Exchequer payroll. The unions also want the government to release funds they say are owed to universities. A union official said the outstanding amount was estimated at more than Sh100 billion, including funds they said had not been remitted under previous university funding arrangements.
The strike involves the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Universities and Colleges Staff and Allied Workers Union (KUDHEA). The unions have said their members will remain on strike pending further direction from their respective leadership.
By Kimutai Langat
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