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The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has announced the suspension of all academic activities following a prolonged staff strike that has paralyzed operations across the institution.
The decision was made during a special Senate meeting held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and took effect immediately.
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In a notice signed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Robert Kinyua, the university cited the ongoing industrial action by members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) as the reason behind the shutdown.
“Due to the ongoing industrial action by members of staff under UASU and KUSU, which has disrupted normal operations of academic programmes, a Special Meeting of Senate held on Thursday, 30th October 2025, resolved that the University temporarily suspends academic activities with immediate effect until further notice,” read the statement.
Following the Senate’s resolution, all students have been directed to vacate university premises by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
However, the directive excludes certain groups of students whose activities are still ongoing, including medical students on clinical rotations, JKUAT TVET Institute, Mombasa Campus, School of Open, Distance and eLearning (SODeL), JKUAT/KESRA, Nakuru Campus, and postgraduate students engaged in research.
Professor Kinyua emphasized that the suspension is a temporary measure, expressing regret over the inconvenience caused.
“The University management regrets any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your understanding and cooperation during this period,” he stated, adding that updates on the resumption of classes will be communicated through official university channels once normalcy returns.
The ongoing strike is part of a broader industrial dispute between university staff and the government over salary arrears, delayed promotions, and the implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
Union officials have vowed to continue with the strike until their demands are met. The industrial action, now in its seventh week, escalated after UASU rejected a government proposal to clear a KSh 7.9 billion salary arrears claim in three instalments.
UASU representatives have maintained that all classes in public universities will remain suspended until the arrears are settled and the 2019–2025 CBA is fully implemented.
