JKUAT Main Campus Gate at Juja
The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has announced an immediate and indefinite closure of the institution, ordering all students to vacate university premises within 24 hours due to the prolonged lecturers’ strike that has crippled learning across public universities.
In a notice dated Saturday, November 1, the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Robert Kinyua, said the decision was reached following a special meeting of the Senate held on October 30, 2025. The meeting resolved that the university could no longer continue with academic operations under the prevailing industrial unrest.
“Due to the ongoing industrial action which has adversely affected the normal operations of academic programmes, the University temporarily suspends academic activities with immediate effect until further notice,” the statement read in part.
Students who are still residing on campus were instructed to vacate university premises by Sunday, November 2, at 4:00 p.m.
Strike Enters Seventh Week
The indefinite shutdown comes as the nationwide strike by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) enters its seventh week, paralysing lectures, research work, and administrative functions across several public universities.
At JKUAT, lecture halls have remained deserted for weeks, with students complaining of uncertainty and frustration as the industrial dispute drags on with no clear resolution in sight. The strike, which began in mid-September, stems from lecturers’ grievances over delayed salary arrears, promotion stagnation, and poor working conditions.
The unions have accused the government of failing to honour a 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which promised salary adjustments and improved terms of service for academic and non-teaching staff.
Efforts to mediate the stalemate between the unions and the Ministry of Education have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.
Who Can Stay
While the directive affects most students, JKUAT clarified that seven categories of learners are exempted from the immediate evacuation order. These include:
- Students on clinical rotations
- JKUAT College students
- Mombasa Campus students
- Nakuru Campus students
- E-learning students
- Postgraduate students conducting research
- Students on industrial attachments or special projects
The university’s management said these exemptions were made to ensure that critical and ongoing academic or professional training activities are not disrupted.
“The University management regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding and cooperation during this period,” the statement added.
Prof. Kinyua assured students that the university would communicate the resumption of normal academic activities through its official communication channels once the industrial dispute is resolved.
Nationwide Impact
The shutdown at JKUAT adds to the growing crisis in Kenya’s higher education sector. Several other public universities — including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Egerton University — have also seen their academic programmes disrupted or suspended as the strike continues to deepen.
At some institutions, frustrated students have been forced to return home, while others have raised concerns over looming academic calendar distortions and delayed graduations.
Private universities, however, remain operational, offering a sharp contrast to the paralysis witnessed in the public sector.
Students Speak Out
Many students expressed disappointment over the closure, saying the abrupt order to vacate had caught them off guard.
“I was supposed to finish my final project this month, but everything has stalled,” said Faith Mwikali, a third-year engineering student. “We have no idea when classes will resume, and it’s really frustrating.”
Others urged both the government and university management to expedite talks with the unions to restore normalcy.
“Education should not be held hostage by politics and bureaucracy,” said Kevin Otieno, a fourth-year IT student. “We are the ones paying the price.”
As the stalemate persists, education analysts warn that continued disruptions could have long-term implications on the country’s academic calendar and international reputation of public universities.
The Ministry of Education is expected to hold a crisis meeting with representatives of UASU and KUSU next week to explore possible solutions. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to hang over the fate of thousands of students across the country, with JKUAT becoming the latest casualty of Kenya’s deepening university strike crisis.
