Kenya's Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) held emergency talks on Tuesday to address a nationwide strike by university lecturers and non-academic staff that has disrupted operations across all public universities and constituent colleges. The meeting, convened by the Ministry of Education, aimed to resolve the crisis triggered by the rejection of a proposed overhaul of tertiary education financing. The strike, launched on October 2, 2026, by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), has paralyzed academic activities and administrative functions, raising concerns about the impact on student learning and institutional governance.
The strike was officially launched by Dr. Nyaberi Mogaka, UASU Secretary General for the University of Eldoret Chapter, alongside KUSU officials and union members. The unions have criticized the government's proposed funding reforms, warning that the measures could lead to increased tuition fees and reduced public investment in higher education. Dr. Mogaka stated that the current funding model, which relies heavily on student fees, is unsustainable and risks exacerbating inequality in access to education. The unions argue that the proposed bill fails to address systemic underfunding and instead shifts financial burdens onto students.
Ongoing informal negotiations between government officials and union representatives have not yet yielded a resolution, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The government has not publicly outlined specific terms for compromise, while UASU and KUSU continue to demand a revision of the funding framework. The unions have also raised concerns about job security and working conditions for academic staff, citing years of delayed salary increases and inadequate resources. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education declined to comment on the talks, stating that discussions remain confidential until a formal agreement is reached.
The prolonged strike has intensified public scrutiny of Kenya's higher education sector, which faces chronic underfunding and governance challenges. With over 200,000 students enrolled in public universities, the disruption threatens to delay graduation timelines and affect research output. Civil society groups have called for urgent intervention to prevent long-term damage to the education system. As the standoff continues, the government faces pressure to balance fiscal responsibility with the need to protect access to quality higher education, a critical driver of economic development in the region.