The tough road back for students, lecturers after 49-day strike

Hallways silent for almost two months now echoed with footsteps; lecture rooms were filled with chatter, while libraries that had been left empty started to buzz with students flipping through books and notes. 

But beneath the renewed rhythm, there is a quiet struggle. The effects of the recent shutdown, triggered by long-standing grievances of delayed salaries, inadequate funding, and calls for better working conditions by university staff, continue to ripple through every corner of university life. 

These unresolved tensions had pushed lecturers and non-teaching staff to withdraw their services, leaving thousands of students stranded.

For many students, the aftershocks have had effects on their academics and emotions. Compressed schedules, hurried coursework, and examinations that arrived sooner than expected have all mounted immense pressure. Students now attend long hours in overcrowded libraries, form study groups to catch up, juggle assignments, and try to make sense of classes they missed during the prolonged break. 

Final-year students, especially, feel anxious over postponed graduations, knowing any delay could affect internships, job applications, or further studies.

The return to campus has been overwhelming for Lynette Amani, a 22-year-old psychology student.

"After being away for 49 days, I thought I could quickly get back to normal," she says. "But reality hits fast. I had to buy extra books as well as study materials to catch up, spend more on transport because I live off-campus, and even meals became harder to manage. My parents had to stretch every shilling just to help me survive this period."

Before the strike, Lynette’s budget covered rent, food, and printing material. The prolonged break upset this balance and created unexpected expenses. Study space at home was limited, and shared rooms made concentration difficult.

“It wasn't just tuition or fees. Even buying lunch or contributing to household groceries has become a challenge. I could see the worry on my parents' faces, and it made focusing on my studies even harder,” she adds. 

Across the country, parents share similar burdens. Extended semesters and repeated units have meant extra costs for rent, meals, transport, and study materials. Many households were forced to revise budgets or borrow to sustain their children’s academic needs. 

Mr. Otieno, whose daughter attends school in Thika, reflects: "We budget our money using the regular semester schedule. When the strike lasted 49 days, everything shifted—rent, food, transport. We had to sacrifice certain things for our child to keep on par with her studies."

Lecturers, too, felt immense pressure. The strike left gaps in the syllabus that now needed to be covered without compromising quality. Many lecturers extended office hours, offered extra consultations, and redesigned lesson plans to ensure students met their learning outcomes. 

Dr. Alex Wanjala, a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, explains:

“We want students to succeed, but we also have to maintain academic standards. Covering lost content after 49 days of disruption while keeping lessons meaningful is quite a challenge. We are adjusting just as much as the students are.”

The end of the strike came only after intense negotiations between government representatives, union leaders, and university councils. Once agreements were reached on phased salary payments, improved welfare commitments, and a review of key policies affecting staff, the strike was officially called off. 

The announcement brought relief across campuses, followed by a rapid recall of learners to resume academic activities. Yet even as learning resumed, the impact of the shutdown remained deeply felt, forcing everyone back into a fast-paced catch-up situation.

Resilience is emerging at various institutions. Students have learnt to adapt to new ways of learning, rely on peer support, and form personal coping strategies. Some used the downtime productively by taking online courses or doing small research projects. Lecturers are embracing innovative teaching approaches, while parents continue navigating financial unpredictability with patience and determination.

The strike also exposed gaps in communication and crisis planning within institutions. Students, lecturers, and parents have since called for improved dialogue to prevent similar disruptions in future. Many universities are now exploring measures to safeguard academic calendars and minimize strain should disputes arise again.

There is a renewed sense of resolve. Libraries are filled with focused learners, lecture halls echo with discussions and the scratch of pens on notebooks. Parents continue sacrificing to support their children, and lecturers dedicate extra time to help students regain lost ground. Although the 49-day strike temporarily halted learning, it did not break the collective determination to rebuild.

For students like Lynette, the experience has left an indelible mark.

"I've learned to be flexible and to plan for the unexpected," she says. "It's hard, but we move forward regardless. Even when everything stopped for 49 days, we didn't. We still hoped. We still showed up today."

Lyndsey Mulindi and Neema Mwaka, Abigael Mutheu, Ivy Muia and Kathleen Alando contributed to this article.