Kisii University Students Threaten To Join Lecturers’ Strike Amid Financial Strain
Image: Kisii university students walk out their school compound after a notice was given to all students of closing the institution indefinitely on Tuesday October 18, 2016. This came after students demonstrations entered the second day as they refused the new system of fees payment introduced by the university: Photo by BENSON MOMANYI (KISII)Students at Kisii University are threatening to escalate the ongoing nationwide lecturers’ strike by joining the demonstrations themselves if the government fails to quickly resolve the standoff.
Speaking on Monday, November 3, 2025, students voiced their frustration over stalled learning and the financial burden of remaining on campus with no classes.
Students’ Grievances and Demands
The students highlighted a crippling dilemma:
- Financial Distress: Many students, like Kenneth Kagwe, stated they have exhausted their government loans (HELB) and are struggling to pay for rent, food, and other necessities while classes are suspended.
“We pay rent, buy food and spend money on other needs,” Kagwe said, questioning why the university remains open when other institutions have closed.
- Lost Time and Education: Students lamented the academic paralysis. David Kiptoo noted that the prolonged absence of lecturers means a longer time to complete the syllabus, secure industrial attachments, and ultimately graduate, calling the delay “wrong and unacceptable.”
- The Ultimatum: Students are demanding one of two immediate actions from the government:
- Pay the Lecturers: Students implored the government to settle the Ksh 7.9 billion the lecturers are demanding to allow teaching to resume immediately.
- Allow Them to Go Home: Vincent Nyamweya pointed out that many students come from poor families and distant areas, making the continued stay on campus unaffordable and unnecessary.
Threat to Strike: Kiptoo warned that if the government fails to pay the lecturers, the students will be forced to join them in the streets to pressure the government to prioritize education.
Government’s Plea for Patience
The students’ threat comes shortly after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba publicly appealed for the strike to end, promising the government is committed to addressing the lecturers’ concerns.
CS Ogamba assured students that the current semester would be extended into next year to compensate for the lost time. However, the students’ mounting financial strain and fear of a permanent derailment of their academic careers suggest that mere promises of an extension are doing little to calm the situation on the ground.
