The Council of Governors’ Committee on Education Chairperson, Erick Mutai, has urged the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to suspend its ongoing strike in public universities, which has now stretched into its eighth week, disrupting higher education across the country.
Mutai announced on Monday, November 3, 2025, that the Council of Governors, in collaboration with the Education Committees of both the National Assembly and Senate, is ready to mediate talks between the union and the government to help restore normal learning.
“Recognizing that the country is going through tough economic times, I urge UASU and the Ministry of Education to find a middle ground so that students can resume studies. The ongoing strike risks derailing an entire academic semester,” said Mutai.
Lecturers Reject Government Offer
The strike, which began in early September 2025, has paralysed learning in nearly all public universities. Last week, UASU rejected the government’s offer to clear KSh7.9 billion in salary arrears through phased payments, insisting on a lump-sum settlement.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wesonga accused the government of failing to honor previous agreements, saying the union would not return to work until all pending dues are fully paid.
“We have seen this pattern before promises made and later broken. This time, we will not move until every cent owed to lecturers is paid,” Wesonga declared.
Academic Disruptions Worsen
The prolonged stalemate has thrown university academic calendars into chaos, with growing fears that students may miss graduations, internships, and final assessments.
The first semester, which began in September, was expected to conclude by mid-December 2025, but with seven weeks already lost and no breakthrough in talks, many students face the likelihood of a lost academic term, even as institutions remain technically open.
Education stakeholders are now urging both sides to compromise, warning that the strike could have long-term effects on the quality of education and on students’ professional timelines.
