The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has announced the temporary suspension of all academic activities following an ongoing staff strike that has paralyzed operations across the institution.
In a notice issued on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and signed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Professor Robert Kinyua, the university stated that the decision was reached during a special meeting of the Senate. The suspension took immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice.
According to the statement, the industrial action by members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) has made it impossible to sustain the academic calendar. The strike has disrupted lectures, examinations, and key administrative services at JKUAT and several other public universities across the country.
“Due to the ongoing industrial action by members of staff under the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), which has adversely affected the 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,” the notice read in part.
As part of the resolution, all students have been directed to vacate the university premises by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
However, certain groups of students are exempted from the directive. These include medical students currently undertaking clinical rotations, those enrolled at the JKUAT TVET Institute, Mombasa Campus, Nakuru Campus, and students in the School of Open, Distance and eLearning (SODeL). Additionally, JKUAT/KESRA students and postgraduate researchers have been allowed to continue with their activities.
The university assured students that the suspension is a temporary measure and that updates will be provided once the ongoing dispute between the administration and the staff unions is resolved.
