University lecturers ditch formal wear for deras during pay protest [Photo/Courtesy]
University lecturers have swapped their usual formal wear for flowing deras, with male dons joining their female colleagues in an unusual fashion statement during protests over pay and working conditions.
The unconventional dress code has added a touch of colour and humour to the demonstrations, drawing attention to the lecturers’ industrial action beyond the usual chants and placards.
Videos seen by TNX Africa captured lecturers from Chuka University and Multimedia University dressed in deras, with some dancing to Taarab music during the protests.
Male lecturers have particularly stood out by wearing deras traditionally associated with women, challenging conventional expectations about the garments as they take to the streets to demand better terms of service.
The videos have amused Kenyans online, with some applauding the lecturers for standing up for their rights while others poked fun at their unexpected fashion choices.
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Some social media users joked about casually scrolling through their timelines only to discover that their fathers were trending online in the flowing outfits.
“Unatulia hivi unaona babako anatrend na dera,” wrote X user @Zena Cosmetics.
However, beneath the unusual fashion statement lies a protracted dispute over university lecturers’ pay and employment terms.
The nationwide strike began on October 2, 2026, after negotiations over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) failed to produce a settlement.
Talks held on October 8 showed some movement, but the unions maintained that no agreement had been reached.
Negotiations collapsed again on October 12 after the lecturers rejected the government’s latest financial proposal, with reports putting the offer at either Sh9.76 billion or Sh12 billion.
The standoff follows an earlier agreement involving Sh7.9 billion in salary arrears, which was separate from the ongoing CBA negotiations.
The unions are demanding satisfactory salary adjustments, allowances and firm commitments on implementing the new agreement.