Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has announced the temporary suspension of all academic activities following the ongoing nationwide lecturers’ strike that has disrupted learning.
In a notice on Saturday, November 1, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Robert Kinyua said the decision was reached after a Special Senate Meeting convened on Thursday, October 30.
He explained that the strike by members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) had made it impossible for teaching and learning to continue as planned.
"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, October 30, 2025 at 12:00 noon resolved that the University temporarily suspends academic activities with immediate effect until further notice," the notice read.
Read More
Following the suspension, students have been directed to vacate the university premises by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2.
However, the university clarified that certain groups of students will not be affected by the suspension order due to the nature of their programmes or learning arrangements.
"This directive does not affect the following, Medical students who are on clinical rotations; JKUAT TVET Institute students; Mombasa Campus students; SODeL students; JKUAT/KESRA students; Nakuru Campus students; and Postgraduate students who are conducting research," the notice added.
Notably, this comes a day after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) rejected the government’s proposal to settle the outstanding Ksh7.9 billion arrears in phases.
Speaking on Friday, October 31, UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga insisted that the arrears must be fully settled before lecturers can resume work.
"The payment of Ksh7.9 billion should be done at once immediately. Lecturers through their organs have instructed me that they don’t disseminate knowledge in phases; therefore, their arrears of Ksh7.9 billion, no one should contemplate that it can be paid in phases," he stated.
The UASU Secretary General also said the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) must be negotiated and implemented before the lecturers go back to classes.
"The 2025–2029 CBA must be negotiated, signed, registered, and implemented. We have four months’ arrears; those arrears must be settled before lecturers contemplate going back to work," he added.
