University of Nairobi Students Protest on Waiyaki Way Over Lecturers’ Strike
University of Nairobi students took to Waiyaki Way on Wednesday, disrupting traffic as they demanded an end to the nationwide lecturers’ strike, which has disrupted learning and raised concerns over academic delays.
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University of Nairobi students staged protests along Waiyaki Way on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, demanding an immediate resolution to the ongoing lecturers’ strike that has disrupted learning at public universities.
The demonstrations disrupted traffic along the busy highway, with students lighting bonfires, burning tyres and using stones to barricade sections of the road. Motorists were forced to seek alternative routes as vehicles struggled to pass through the affected areas.
The students said the prolonged industrial action had affected their studies, prompting them to take to the streets to pressure the government to resolve the dispute.
Images obtained by Nairobian.co.ke showed students carrying placards, twigs and whistles as they demonstrated along the highway while chanting slogans.
Students Had Issued Government a 72-Hour Ultimatum
The protests came less than a week after the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA) warned that students would take to the streets if the lecturers’ strike remained unresolved.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 16, UNSA President Ahmed Rashid gave the government a 72-hour ultimatum to address the dispute, warning that students would join demonstrations if the deadline passed without a resolution.
Student leaders accused the government of failing to address university lecturers’ grievances, arguing that learners should not continue bearing the consequences of the dispute between university staff and the state.
UNSA also raised concerns over missed lectures and examinations, warning that the disruption had left some students uncertain about when they would complete their academic programmes.
Why University Lecturers Are on Strike
The nationwide lecturers’ strike began on October 2, 2026, after university staff unions raised concerns over progress in implementing the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other university staff unions are demanding the negotiation, signing and full implementation of the agreement, which covers employment terms, salaries and allowances.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga has maintained that implementation of the agreement must be supported by a clear financial commitment from the government, particularly the National Treasury.
The industrial action has disrupted university learning, leaving students concerned about the impact on their academic schedules.
The Wednesday demonstrations added to pressure on the government to address the lecturers’ demands and resolve the dispute affecting university education.
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