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TUK closed indefinitely after lecturers’ strike
What you need to know:
- The decision came following a meeting held by the senate of the university on Monday.
- The striking lecturers are demanding an improvement in their work environment.
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) was on Monday closed indefinitely following weeks of protests by lecturers who are demanding an improvement in their work environment.
In a notice issued on Monday by the university Academic Registrar Moses Wamalwa, all diploma and undergraduate students were asked to vacate the campus by 2:45 pm.
While the notice appears to be soft and does not term the directive a closure, students who reside in university hostels were ordered to vacate by 5pm.
“Subsequently, the students in the halls of residence should vacate the premises 5pm today Monday, February 3rd, 2025,” the notice reads.
Technical University of Kenya staff, students and Kenya Universities Staff Union demonstrate at the institution on February 3, 2025 over delayed staff salaries.
The decision came following a meeting held by the senate of the university on Monday after the institution failed to administer examinations to students.
This follows the ongoing strike from the university staff members who rejected the vice chancellor’s call asking them to resume their teaching duties on Monday and administer the examinations.
The tests had been scheduled to start on Monday, February 3 to February 15.
Both Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) members ignored the VC’s calls to avail themselves for the examinations. Instead, the staff members protested outside the university, paralysing the exercise as students joined them in solidary.
Technical University of Kenya staff, students and Kenya Universities Staff Union demonstrate at the institution on February 3, 2025.
Following the closer, KUSU TUK- branch Acting Chairperson Yucabed Gwaya said that the situation was getting out of hands and that the government through the Ministry of Education must intervene.
“TU-K was brought down my known people, EACC through Ministry of Education has taken too long to come for their clients to transact business. Again, why did the government chatter a university whose employees, they can't pay salaries? Ms Gwaya said.
She stated that since 2013, the government has never paid TUK employees gross salary, and they only pay net salary.
“The government must willingly engage KUSU and UASU and they must prepare to pay University employees gross salaries. Actually the Government sends Sh63.3 million capitation to pay net salaries yet, TUK net payroll is Sh148 million, where does the government expect the University to get top up to pay net salaries,” Ms Gwaya questioned.
Perennial strike
Speaking during the protest at the university, UASU national secretary general Dr Constantine Wasonga said that there would be no teaching until the demands raised by the staff members have been fully addressed.
Dr Wasonga asked the national government to take over the payment of the university lecturers to avert the perennial strike in the country.
“We want all lecturers to be paid directly from the exchequer,” Dr Wasonga said.
He also asked the government to change the university council of TUK, just the same way that it did with the Moi University Council.
“In the same spirit, I want to ask the national government to replace the council of the Technical University of Kenya sooner than immediately. And once you replace them, follow the replacement with money,” Dr Wasonga said.
Technical University of Kenya staff, students and Kenya Universities Staff Union demonstrate at the institution on February 3, 2025.
UASU boss said that the government can salvage UK from heading to the Moi University direction by giving them Sh250 million every month to sustain its workforce.
He also said that Kenya Revenue Authority should be stopped from deducted its pending taxes from TUK and called for negotiation to resolve the pending KRA deductions, which he says was caused by the government which has been underfunding universities.
“What we are saying as members of university community, can the government bailout public universities and PAYE remittances. TUK owes KRA Sh4.1 billion. Let the government write off that that Sh4.1 billion,” Dr Wasonga said.
The striking staff have also said that they will not resume to their duties until the university management and the government addresses issues of non-remittances of third party and statutory deductions, lack of a comprehensive medical cover for TUK employees, and delay in payment of salaries.