- Chaos broke out at Kenyatta University after striking lecturers attacked their colleagues who had returned to teaching
- The college had ordered academic activities to continue as usual but the order was met with resistance from striking staff, who disrupted classes and told students to go home.
- The nationwide lecturers’ strike, which is now in its sixth week, has paralyzed classes in public universities across Kenya, with labor unions demanding KSh 7.9 billion
Chaos broke out at Kenyatta University on Tuesday, October 21, after a group of striking lecturers attacked their colleagues who had started teaching.
Source: UGC
The confrontation happened shortly after the university administration ordered all academic activities to resume.
In a memo dated October 16, the college had announced the return to normal academic activities.
“Following the decision of the University Senate on October 15, all activities of the first semester, Academic Year 2025/2026 should continue as scheduled. Therefore all students should resume their studies from the morning of Tuesday, October 21,” the memorandum read in part.
However, the order created tension as lecturers who defied the ongoing strike found themselves confronted by their fellow strikers. Students watched in shock as their teachers fought outside the classrooms.
The striking lecturers tell the students to go home
Videos circulating online showed chaotic scenes, with lecturers blasting vuvuzelas, shouting, and interrupting classes. University security personnel were later seen taking away the containers to restore order.
In one of the videos, a striking lecturer told students that the government is forcing universities to appear operational despite unresolved grievances.
“The leadership is forced by the government to make sure things look like they are working. But as you can see, nothing is working. You are free to go home,” he said.
He asked the students to leave the campus until the General Secretary of the University Staff Union (UASU), Constantine Wasonga, announces the official end of the strike.
“As long as Wasonga has not said the strike is over, you can be sure there are no classes. Go home, and when you see on the news that the strike is over, you can come back,” he added.
Also read
Raila Odinga: 2 Youths Are Illuminated While Laying Flowers at the Grave of the ODM Leader
TUK lecturers were paid half salaries, fired for participating in the strike
Meanwhile, lecturers at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) started protest their internal, increasing pressure for a national crisis.
They accused the administration of issuing letters to stop more than 40 lecturers from participating in the strike. Speaking to journalists, the Secretary of the UASU TUK Chapter Fred Sawanja said that the leadership is using intimidation methods.
“They are using restraining letters to intimidate us, but we are not bowing down. They are harassing us by restraining us and paying half wages. If they are so effective, why can’t they pay full wages?” he put.
Source: UGC
What the lecturers want before calling off the strike
The lecturers’ strike, which is now entering its sixth week, has paralyzed activities in all public universities.
Many students have traveled home, unsure when learning will resume. UASU and the Union of University Workers in the country (KUSU) have maintained that the strike will continue until the government releases KSh 7.9 billion owed by the workers.
According to the unions, the money is collected from the 2019-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
