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University of Nairobi (UoN) students staged disruptive protests along Waiyaki Way on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, bringing traffic to a standstill as they demanded an immediate resolution to the nationwide lecturers’ strike.
Demonstrators lit bonfires, burnt tires, and used large stones to barricade sections of the major highway, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. Armed with placards, twigs, and whistles, the protesting students chanted slogans calling on the government to urgently address the grievances raised by academic staff.
The unrest follows a 72-hour ultimatum issued last week by the University of Nairobi Students Association (UNSA). UNSA President Ahmed Rashid warned that students would take to the streets if authorities failed to end the impasse.
Student leaders highlighted the severe toll the prolonged strike is taking, noting that affected students—including pharmacy candidates—missed crucial examinations, leading to growing idleness, depression, and anxiety among the student body.
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The demonstrations have also targeted Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, with protesters and union leaders demanding his resignation over his failure to resolve the crisis.
The nationwide strike, which began on October 2, was called by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and other staff unions to press for the negotiation, signing, and full implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga has maintained that the union will not relent without a concrete financial commitment from the National Treasury regarding salaries, allowances, and improved employment terms.
With academic activities paralyzed across public universities, Wednesday’s protests place intense pressure on the government and union leadership to negotiate a swift settlement and restore normalcy to higher education.
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