By the 254.ke Newsroom
No date has been set for public universities to reopen. The lecturers’ strike that began on October 2, 2026 was still on as of October 28, with no agreement announced between the unions and the government. A memo that circulated last week announcing the resumption of classes at Kenyatta University turned out to be fake.
The Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) are striking over how the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is being implemented. Here is where the dispute stands and what students can reliably act on.
When will public universities reopen?
Nobody in government or the unions has given a return date. UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga has warned that the strike could run for an extended period if the government does not change its position, according to Citizen Digital’s report on Parliament’s debate of the strike.
Students should treat any “classes resume” notice as unverified until it appears on their university’s own website or verified social media accounts.
What was the fake Kenyatta University memo?
On Friday, October 23, Kenyatta University (KU) said a memo circulating on social media was fake. The document was dated October 23, carried the name of the Acting Registrar (Academic), Prof. Perez Onono-Okelo, and said classes would resume on Monday, October 26.
KU said the memo “did not originate from the Office of the Registrar (Academic) or any official university authority.” It told students to rely on ku.ac.ke and its verified channels, and to contact their schools and departments for instructions.
Strike timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sept 24 | UASU said the strike followed the failure of university councils, the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to honour a return-to-work formula signed on Nov 5, 2025. |
| Oct 2 | Nationwide strike begins after talks with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) collapse. The unions reject a proposed Sh9.76 billion settlement, saying it was not negotiated with them. |
| Oct 5 | Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba urges lecturers to “obey the orders of the court and return to work” and says arrears under earlier CBAs have been paid. |
| Oct 12 | Talks with the government’s inter-ministerial committee collapse. UASU says the offer was largely the same as October 1’s and that the National Treasury did not attend. |
| Oct 22 | The National Assembly urges the Executive to intervene. Speaker Moses Wetangula says the Assembly should petition the Ministry of Finance to revisit the CBA and end the strike. |
| Oct 23 | KU disowns the fake resumption memo. |
| Oct 26-27 | The Education CS floats a new plan to end the strike, per the Kenyans.co.ke news tracker; UoN students protest the strike on October 27. |
What do the unions want?
- A negotiated CBA. Terms of service should be set through collective bargaining, not government circulars, the unions say.
- A credible offer. UASU says the government’s recent proposals do not show real commitment.
- Exchequer funding for salaries. UASU wants a firm commitment from the National Treasury that public university staff pay will be funded.
What is the government saying?
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala told the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee that the ministry is engaging stakeholders to end the stalemate. CS Ogamba has said the government cleared dues under previous CBAs and is committed to timely negotiation of the current one. Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah told the House that students are “wasting away at home.”
What should students do now?
- Check only your university’s official website and verified social media pages for reopening notices.
- Do not forward or act on screenshots of memos. KU’s case shows fake ones spread fast.
- Contact your school or department for guidance on coursework and any rescheduled exams.
FAQ
Is the lecturers’ strike over?
No. As of October 28, 2026, no agreement had been announced and Citizen Digital’s latest reporting describes the strike as ongoing.
Which unions are on strike?
UASU, representing academic staff, and KUSU, representing non-teaching staff, at public universities.
Did Kenyatta University announce that classes resume on October 26?
No. KU said that memo was fake and did not come from any official university authority.
What is the strike about?
Implementation of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the unions’ demand that terms be negotiated rather than set by circular.
For earlier coverage, see our report on the lecturers’ strike and the rejected Sh12B offer, and our guide to the KCSE 2026 timetable. Official ministry updates are published by the Ministry of Education.
Sources: Citizen Digital (Oct 5, Oct 22 and Oct 24 reports, updated Oct 28); AllAfrica (Oct 12); Kenyans.co.ke news tracker (Oct 26-27).
