TUK Closed Indefinitely as Lecturers Strikes Disrupt Exams.
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) was indefinitely closed on Monday after weeks of protests by lecturers demanding better working conditions. The closure follows disruptions caused by staff strikes, which rendered the administration of scheduled examinations impossible.
A notice issued by the university’s Academic Registrar, Moses Wamalwa, directed all diploma and undergraduate students to leave the campus by 2:45 pm on Monday. Students residing in university hostels were instructed to vacate by 5:00 pm.
Although the notice did not explicitly refer to the directive as a closure, the evacuation order effectively halted campus operations.
The decision to close the university came after a meeting of the university senate on Monday. The institution had failed to proceed with examinations that were initially set to begin on February 3 and run until February 15 due to the ongoing staff strike.
Staff members defied the vice-chancellor’s request to resume teaching duties and administer the tests, instead staging protests outside the university, with some students joining in solidarity.
The Acting Chairperson of the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) TUK branch, Yucabed Gwaya, said the situation was deteriorating and urged the government, through the Ministry of Education, to intervene. She criticized the government for underfunding the university and failing to address critical financial issues.
According to Ms. Gwaya, TUK employees have not received gross salaries since 2013, with the government only providing funds to cover net salaries.
She questioned how the university was expected to meet its financial obligations, noting that the government allocates KSh 63.3 million monthly for salaries, while the net payroll requirement stands at KSh 148 million.
She insisted that the government must engage with KUSU and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to resolve these issues.
Perennial Strikes and Funding Challenges
Speaking during the protests, UASU National Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wasonga stated that no teaching would resume until all staff demands were addressed. He urged the national government to take over the payment of university lecturers directly to prevent recurring strikes.
Dr. Wasonga called for the replacement of the TUK university council, drawing parallels to the government’s recent restructuring of the Moi University council. He argued that any new council should be accompanied by adequate funding to stabilize operations.
He suggested that the government allocate KSh 250 million monthly to sustain the university’s workforce and proposed negotiations with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to address the institution’s pending tax obligations.
Dr. Wasonga further emphasized the need for a government bailout to resolve public universities’ financial crises. He revealed that TUK owes KRA KSh 4.1 billion in unpaid taxes, which he attributed to chronic underfunding.
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He urged the government to write off the debt and address issues such as non-remittance of statutory deductions, lack of a comprehensive medical cover for staff, and delayed salary payments.
Staff Resolve to Continue Strike
The striking staff reiterated their stance, stating they would not resume duties until their grievances were fully addressed. Key concerns include delayed salary payments, non-remittance of third-party and statutory deductions, and inadequate healthcare coverage for employees.
The indefinite closure of TUK highlights the urgent need for structural reforms and increased funding to stabilize operations and avert future disruptions.
TUK Closed Indefinitely as Lecturers Strikes Disrupt Exams.
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