Students from the University of Nairobi took to the streets, demanding an immediate resolution to a nationwide lecturers' strike that has disrupted academic activities for nearly three weeks.

The demonstrators blocked sections of Waiyaki Way, one of Kenya's busiest highways, using burning tyres and stones to barricade the road and disrupt traffic.

Their protest followed a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the University of Nairobi Students Association, which had threatened demonstrations if the dispute remained unresolved.

Students accused the Ministry of Education of failing to address the concerns of lecturers, whose industrial action has left teaching suspended across public universities.

"The ministry has failed us, so far so good. They did nothing," one protester said. "Our lecturers must be paid. They are our parents and they heavily depend on their salary to pay their bills."

The protesters also demanded the resignation of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, accusing him of failing to resolve the prolonged dispute.

"If you have failed us, if you have failed the ministry, if you failed to end this lecturer strike, kindly vacate the office so that those position can be given to deserving Kenyans," the protester said.

The industrial action began on October 2 after negotiations between university staff unions and public university representatives failed to produce an agreement.

At the centre of the dispute are lecturers' salaries, working conditions and the proposed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) is demanding the negotiation, signing and implementation of the agreement.

It is also seeking a firm government commitment to finance lecturers' salaries through the National Treasury.

According to the union, further discussions with government representatives on October 12 ended without an agreement.

With teaching activities still suspended, students face continued uncertainty over their academic schedules, examinations and graduation dates.