JKUAT suspends academic activities amid ongoing staff strike

UASU strike/FILE

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has announced the temporary suspension of all academic activities following a staff strike that has disrupted normal university operations.

The decision, reached during a special meeting of the university’s Senate on Thursday, October 30, 2025, took immediate effect.

According to a notice signed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Robert Kinyua, the suspension was prompted by ongoing industrial action by members of staff affiliated with two university unions.

The strike, which has affected learning and essential services across several public universities, has made it difficult for the institution to sustain its academic calendar.

“Due to the ongoing industrial action by members of staff under the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), which has adversely affected the normal operations of academic programmes, a Special Meeting of Senate held on Thursday, 30th October 2025, resolved that the University temporarily suspends academic activities with immediate effect until further notice,” the notice reads in part.

As a result of the Senate resolution, all students have been instructed to vacate the university premises by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

However, the directive excludes specific categories of students whose activities are considered essential or ongoing.

“These include medical students on clinical rotations, JKUAT TVET Institute students, Mombasa Campus students, those in the School of Open, Distance and eLearning (SODeL), JKUAT/KESRA students, Nakuru Campus students, and postgraduate students conducting research,” the notice clarifies.

The university administration described the suspension as a temporary measure.

“The University management regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding and cooperation during this period,” Professor Kinyua stated, adding that further communication on the resumption of studies would be issued through official university channels once the situation normalises.

The industrial action by UASU and KUSU is part of a broader dispute between university staff and the government over issues such as salary arrears, implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and delayed promotions.

Union officials have maintained that the strike will continue until their grievances are addressed.

The strike, now in its seventh week, escalated after UASU reportedly rejected a government proposal to settle a Sh7.9 billion salary arrears claim in three instalments.

UASU representatives have stated that classes in public universities will remain suspended until the arrears are cleared and the 2019–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement is fully implemented.