Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has strongly dismissed a fake letter circulating online claiming that universities would be closed due to the ongoing lecturers’ strike.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Ogamba clarified that the document, which bore his name, was fraudulent and should be ignored.
“The letter currently circulating and purporting to be from me is fake. I urge the public to treat it with the contempt it deserves,” he stated.
Ogamba assured parents and students that no directive had been issued to close universities, adding that such a decision would not be considered until 2026. He urged the public to rely solely on official government channels for credible updates on matters of higher education.
Lecturers Dig In
The clarification comes as public universities remain crippled by a lecturers’ strike now entering its third week. The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) have vowed not to return to class until the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is fully honoured.
UASU National Chairperson Grace Nyongesa insisted that the government must also open talks on the 2025–2029 CBA.
“We shall remain outside until the issues raised are addressed. There are no negotiations currently underway,” she said.
KUSU Secretary-General Dr. Charles Mukhwaya accused university councils of misleading the public, pointing out that the Attorney General and the courts had already directed that lecturers be paid.
“We cannot negotiate a court judgment. Let them pay,” he warned.
Students in Limbo
The strike has left thousands of students stranded, with some threatening demonstrations if the stalemate persists. Unions are demanding Ksh7.9 billion in arrears from the 2017–2021 CBA, while the Treasury has only released Ksh2.5 billion toward Phase Two of the current deal.
For now, the future of higher education remains uncertain as the standoff deepens.
