Catholic Bishop urges government to end lecturers' strike

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

Speaking on 1st October 2025, during a mass held at the Catholic Cathedral Church in Kitui town, Bishop Mwongela expressed deep concern that the government had taken the strike lightly, despite its devastating impact on students who resumed their academic programmes in August only to find lecturers absent from lecture halls. “The strike has destroyed education in universities, which is very dangerous for our students. Education is the key light for our children, and we urge the government to rectify this issue so that students can continue learning,” he said.

The lecturers, through their unions, have been pressing the government to meet a raft of demands. These include the full payment of outstanding arrears under previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) which the State has failed to honour, as well as the negotiation, registration, and implementation of the 2025–2029 CBA. They are also demanding improved working conditions, better employee welfare, and payment of pending arrears.

Bishop Mwongela joined other religious leaders in calling upon the national government to sit down with university lecturers and agree on a sustainable solution. He stressed that dialogue and goodwill were the only way to end the crisis where this prolonged industrial action risks crippling higher education in Kenya, with long-term consequences for both students and the nation.

Lecturers recently noted that they have repeatedly decried empty promises from the government and are now demanding real action and reimbursement of what is owed to them.

Beyond the strike, the bishop also criticised corruption in public offices, blaming it for stalled development and financial mismanagement in the country. He said the misuse of funds had led to poor distribution of salaries, delayed payments, and disruption of essential services, which in turn fuel strikes among government employees.

“Good use of public funds by the government can help end the endless strikes by workers. We cannot keep experiencing industrial action just for employees to be heard. Government officials should sit down, talk, and find solutions,” Bishop Mwongela stated.

He further emphasised that Kenya needs a change in governance that restores citizens’ trust and offers them hope for a better future. Linking this to the ongoing voter registration exercise by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the bishop urged Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.“I call upon all Kenyans to come out and get their voter’s cards. This is our chance to elect leaders who will truly represent the people and address the issues we face,” he said.

The bishop’s remarks highlight growing public pressure on the government to resolve the lecturers’ strike, which continues to disrupt learning in universities countrywide.