Bring an Agenda or Face 2027 Poll Defeat, Ruto Dares Opposition; Kenya’s Public Debt Hits KSh13 Trillion as Controller of Budget Raises Concern & Kaluma Asks Murkomen to Declare October 15 a Public Holiday to Honour Raila

More than 700,000 students in Kenya’s public universities are facing lost learning time, rising living costs and uncertainty as the lecturers’ strike enters its third week, with talks between the government and unions failing to reach a deal.

The shutdown has left many students stranded, with some forced to return home while others remain on campus despite having no classes. Students are also worried that their upkeep money may run out before learning resumes.

The strike has hit first-year students particularly hard, with many having joined university only weeks before classes were disrupted. Others fear delayed graduation as the academic calendar remains uncertain.

The financial burden is also growing. Students who travel home may have to spend extra money returning to campus when the strike ends. Those who remain in hostels continue paying living expenses without attending lectures.

The dispute centres on the implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Universities Academic Staff Union and the Kenya Universities Staff Union rejected the government’s Sh12 billion offer, saying it was inadequate.

University leaders have warned that some courses, including Medicine, may struggle to recover lost learning time because of their tightly scheduled programmes.

As negotiations stall, students and their families continue to bear the cost of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, here are news stories making headlines on Opera News today;

President William Ruto has challenged opposition leaders seeking to unite against him to present an alternative agenda or risk defeat in the 2027 General Election.

The President said opposition leaders were focused on tribal arithmetic and political alliances against him, but warned that Kenyans would reject such formations at the ballot.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has renewed concerns about Kenya’s financial position following revelations that the country’s public debt has climbed beyond KSh13 trillion, raising fresh questions about government borrowing, expenditure and accountability.

The development comes as President William Ruto’s administration faces increasing pressure to demonstrate how public resources are being utilised and whether the country can sustain its growing financial obligations without placing additional strain on taxpayers.

Peter Kaluma Asks Murkomen to Declare October 15 a Public Holiday to Honour Raila Odinga Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma has called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to declare Thursday October 15 2026 a national public holiday.

This is to allow Kenyans to remember the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

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