Opinion: Closing down public varsities best option as strikes persist

From 3rd left University academic staff union national chairman Muga Olale,UASU Secretary general Constatine Wesonga and members of Kenya university staff union in solidarity during the university staff strike for their salaries to be increased at the University of Nairobi graduation square on 4th MARCH 2018 PHOTO DAVID GICHURU

More than 40 days after it began, the lecturers’ strike is showing no sign of petering out. The matter is being treated with remarkable nonchalance.

The disruptions to higher education will take years to recover. An online campaign led by public universities students under the hashtag #EndLecturersStrike has ably captured their frustrations. A degree that would ordinarily finalise in about four years is now taking seven.