Lecturers in at least seven public universities are up in arms over salary delays, saying they survive on Fuliza and shylock loans.
The Universities Academic Staff Union leadership on Saturday said members will picket on the fifth day of each month in protest, starting from Monday.
They held a joint press briefing at JKUAT Juja main campus, Kiambu county, led by JKUAT chapter secretary general Dr Shadrack Muya.
"It is with great concern that by the 17th of May, our members have not received their salaries for the month of April," he said.
"This despite fulfilling their duties and serving as per their contractual terms, they are yet to be compensated."
The officials said they can no longer tolerate the salary delays as they are turning members into beggars.
"This is a clear violation of the Employment Act 2007 and the Constitution of Kenya 2010," Muya said.
Uasu JKUAT chapter treasurer Timona Soita said the delay in salary payments has caused significant hardship to lecturers.
It affects their ability to meet financial obligations, such as servicing standing orders, mortgage payments and school fees.
"As a result, many of us have been forced to resort to loans from Fuliza, M-shwari and shylocks to survive," Soita said.
"This is demeaning and causes embarrassment to our members. Imagine a whole professor facing closure of his rental house for non-payment of rent, or begging a school principal not to send home his child over fees arrears."
JKUAT chapter chairman Muiga Rugara accused the government and the university management of failing in their obligations and subjecting public institutions of higher education to possible collapse.
Some of the other affected institutions include Moi University, Kenyatta University, Technical University of Kenya and Masinde Muliro University of Technology.
The dons say the pay delays have disrupted essential services tied to statutory contributions, including access to medical services.
