The nationwide lecturers' strike extended into its second day on Thursday, with university lecturers defying an order from the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
On Wednesday evening, the court issued a temporary injunction preventing the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities’ Staff Union (KUSU) from organizing, encouraging, or inciting participation in any strike or industrial action.
However, speaking at the University of Nairobi, UASU and KUSU leaders vowed to continue the strike, arguing that the court order only prohibits them from issuing a new strike notice after September 18, 2024.
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"September 11 is unaffected; we are not initiating any new industrial action. We will comply with the court order by not issuing another strike notice. We have already issued the current one, and the court order is not retroactive," explained UASU UoN Chapter Secretary General Maloba Wekesa.
He further emphasized, "The members here are engaged in a legally protected strike."
UASU UoN Chairman, Ambassador Richard Bosire, also stated, "We will persist with this strike for as long as the government chooses."
The strike, which began on Wednesday, has disrupted learning across all public universities. Lecturers initiated the nationwide action in response to delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the government.
Union leaders also raised concerns about delayed and inadequate pay, the failure to remit statutory deductions, and the government's lack of comprehensive health coverage for their members.
