Egerton University students ordered to vacate campus amid ongoing lecturers' strike

Egerton University has temporarily suspended all teaching and learning activities following the ongoing industrial action by lecturers and university staff that has crippled operations across the institution.

In a notice to students dated November 4, 2025, the university said the strike by the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) had “adversely affected the normalcy of university activities.”

Students have hence been directed to vacate the university premises by Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 2p.m.

“The University Senate at its 580th meeting held on 4th November 2025 resolved that teaching and learning activities be formally suspended until the industrial dispute is resolved,” read the notice signed by Registrar of Academic Affairs, Prof. Mwanarusi Saidi.

“The University Senate apologises for the inconveniences caused by the industrial action."

The directive, however, does not affect Medical and Law students, international students, and postgraduate students.

The university said resumption of teaching and learning activities will be communicated through its official website and social media pages.

The suspension comes amid a nationwide standoff between lecturers’ unions and the government over the payment of Ksh.7.9 billion in arrears.

On Tuesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi told the Education Parliamentary Committee that the government was unable to settle the amount in full due to fiscal constraints, urging the unions to accept a phased payment plan.

“We want to commit ourselves to an arrangement we can realistically sustain. Our economic stability is improving compared to last year, when we almost defaulted on our foreign debt,” said CS Mbadi, who proposed that the arrears be paid in two instalments spread across the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 financial years.

However, the proposal was rejected by both UASU and KUSU, who insist that lecturers will not return to class until the entire amount is paid at once.

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga has maintained that the government must also implement the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in full before learning resumes.

Education CS Julius Ogamba has since acknowledged that the stalemate persists, noting that unions declined the ministry’s proposal despite assurances that the funds had not been budgeted for in the current financial year.

The strike has affected public universities nationwide, with Treasury and the Ministry of Education urging unions to embrace a realistic settlement plan amid Kenya’s tight fiscal space.