UoN Students Storm Waiyaki Way, Burn Tyres and Paralyse Traffic as Lecturers’ Strike Sparks Protests

University of Nairobi students took to the streets on Wednesday, October 21, protesting against the ongoing lecturers’ strike, which has disrupted learning and raised concerns about delays in their academic programmes.

The demonstrations affected traffic along Waiyaki Way in Nairobi, where students barricaded sections of the busy highway to demand an immediate solution to the dispute between university lecturers and the relevant authorities.

During the protest, some students lit bonfires and burnt tyres on the road. Others placed stones along sections of the highway, making it difficult for motorists to proceed. The disruption forced drivers to look for alternative routes as traffic movement slowed in the affected areas.

Photographs shared online showed groups of students carrying placards, twigs and whistles as they marched along the road. They chanted slogans to draw attention to their grievances and press for action to end the strike.

The students said the continued interruption of lectures had affected their studies, leaving them uncertain about when normal learning activities would resume. Their protest reflected growing frustration among learners who fear that the industrial action could interfere with their academic schedules.

The lecturers’ strike has brought learning activities at the university to a standstill, putting pressure on those involved in the dispute to reach an agreement. Students stand to bear the consequences of a prolonged disagreement, particularly if the disruption leads to changes in examination dates, completion timelines or other academic activities.

The Wednesday demonstrations added to the pressure for a quick resolution, with students taking their complaints directly to the streets after the interruption of their studies.

It remained unclear how soon the dispute would be resolved or when normal learning would resume. Further developments are expected as the university community awaits a way forward.

The protests also disrupted the daily movement of motorists using one of Nairobi’s major roads, highlighting the wider impact of the ongoing university strike.

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