Karatina University has announced an indefinite closure following prolonged disruption of academic activities due to ongoing industrial action by the university staff.
In an internal memo dated Monday, November 3, the university’s Senate said it had reached the decision during a special meeting held earlier in the day.
According to the memo, the closure affects all learners except for the School of Health Sciences.
"Following disruption of teaching and learning for the last six weeks of the first semester of 2025/2026 academic year occasioned by university staff industrial action, the Senate, in a special meeting held today, Monday, November 3, 2025, recommended the immediate suspension of all learning activities till further notice except for the School of Health Sciences," the memo read.
The university further directed all students to leave the institution immediately, setting noon as the deadline for evacuation.
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Additionally, the university indicated that student elections that had been scheduled earlier will be rescheduled once learning resumes.
"Therefore, as indicated above, students are hereby advised to vacate the university premises immediately and not later than noon.
"The elections time-table will be updated after resumption of learning to start with earlier planned activities running from November 3, 2025," the memo added.
While expressing regret over the interruption of academic programs, the university commended students for their patience and understanding during the crisis.
"The University Senate, Management and the Vice Chancellor appreciate all the students for their understanding and cooperation over this period of disruption," the memo concluded.
This comes days after the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) 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.
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.
