Lecturers strike: Students count cost as lecturers' strike drags on
Education
By
Gentrix Osano
| Oct 14, 2026
University students across Kenya are bearing the financial and academic brunt of the ongoing lecturers’ strike, with many paying rent for unused accommodation and final-year students fearing delayed graduations.
For off-campus residents, the suspension of classes has not paused daily expenses like rent, food, and utilities. The lack of official communication from university administrations has left many unable to plan their academic or personal lives.
A third-year Mass Communication student at the University of Nairobi expressed frustration over paying for housing while making no academic progress.
“I’m still paying rent, yet there are no studies going on,” he said, noting that repeated industrial action over the years has pushed back his expected graduation date.
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The disruption is also straining families. Maureen Ouko, a parent whose son recently joined the University of Eldoret, had budgeted for him to stay on campus until December. However, the suspension of learning forced her to bring him home early, incurring unplanned travel and accommodation costs.
“My biggest concern is the time students are losing,” Ouko said, calling on the Ministry of Education and union leaders to reach a compromise. “I urge the Government and university officials to sit down and engage in meaningful discussions to find a lasting solution to the issues causing these strikes every year.”
Students across institutions have voiced similar concerns over lost time and the psychological toll of prolonged idleness. Caleb Kariuki, an engineering student, warned that long breaks expose students to risky behaviors: “You know it’s at such times that people find themselves doing drugs and other bad things, so the strike should be resolved soon.”
At the Technical University of Mombasa, student Meshack Wambua warned that extending the semester to compensate for lost time would impose an extra financial burden on students. Meanwhile, Egerton University Students Association leader Teddy Odhiambo faulted the lack of official direction, warning that students might join lecturers on the streets if the stalemate persists.
“If there is need, we can even resolve to join our lecturers in demonstrations,” Odhiambo said.
However, some students are adapting. Milkah Macharia from the Technical University of Kenya urged her peers to use the downtime constructively by acquiring short-course certifications, practicing technical software, or attending industry workshops.
The crisis follows the collapse of negotiations between the government and public university unions—including the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and KUDHEIHA.
The unions, which downed tools on October 2, 2026, over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), rejected a KSh 12 billion government offer, maintaining that it fails to adequately meet their pay and benefit demands.
Until a deal is struck, thousands of students remain in limbo, watching their living expenses mount while their academic timelines slip away.