Moses Nyanduga started a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2021, a programme designed to be completed in four years, but he is still a student after five and a half years.

A semester that was scheduled to finish in December 2024 was only concluded in March 2025 after lecturers went on strike for two and a half months, extending the academic calendar.

Nyanduga notes that his academic calendar has been disrupted at least three times by industrial action, each interruption further delaying his progress.

He had originally planned to graduate in June, but with supplementary exams still unconfirmed, his graduation has been moved to December, and if the October special exams do not proceed, another year on campus is possible.

The prolonged strikes have forced Nyanduga to adopt a “010” survival strategy—one meal a day, skipping lunch—as rent and food costs continue to accrue despite the lack of teaching.

He warns that the mental wellbeing of students is deteriorating under the strain, and some may consider joining lecturers in future industrial action.

While acknowledging that the strikes stem from legitimate staff grievances, Nyanduga argues that students are being overlooked in the ongoing dispute between universities and academic staff.