The Employment and Labour Relations Court has suspended the nationwide strike by university staff that disrupted learning across public universities on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
In a ruling delivered Thursday, September 18, Justice Stephen Radido ordered the suspension of the strike, directing all parties involved to engage in conciliation in accordance with the Labour Relations Act.
“There is evidence that the applicant, Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum, has reported a trade dispute to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, as contemplated under the Labour Relations Act. Good faith in industrial relations requires that parties conciliate in good faith,” said Justice Radido.
He added, “The court will, therefore, issue an order interdicting the ongoing strike pending conciliation.”
The judge further directed the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and relevant government agencies to file and serve their responses by September 30, 2025. The matter is scheduled for further proceedings on October 6, 2025.
The strike, which began on September 17, had paralysed academic activities in public universities, affecting thousands of students nationwide.
