Lecturers from different universities in Kenya turned heads by marching in vibrant traditional deras as part of a nationwide strike, with both male and female members of staff joining the eye-catching demonstration.
Videos and images circulating on social media captured the demonstrators moving through the streets in flowing, brightly coloured garments, with male lecturers notably also adopting the attire in a bold bid to amplify their message.
Lecturers in Deras The dons took to the streets in dera-themed attire, signalling that the creative approach had spread beyond a single campus.
Their colourful demonstrations have succeeded in drawing public curiosity to the strike, even as the core issues remain firmly rooted in employment agreements and remuneration.
Whether the spectacle translates into a breakthrough at the negotiating table remains to be seen, with the outcome likely to shape the coming academic calendar for students and lecturers alike.
The strike is driven by a broader dispute between university staff unions, among them the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), and the government.
Why Lecturers Are Striking
At the heart of the standoff are demands for the full implementation of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), resolution of salary grievances, and a sustainable funding model for public universities.
The prolonged standoff has cast a shadow over academic activities, raising fears about examinations, graduation ceremonies and the intake of new students.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has called on union members to step back from industrial action and allow negotiations to proceed.
University administrators, meanwhile, have cautioned that a continued deadlock risks significant disruption across the higher education sector.
