Lecturers at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) have launched a fierce protest demanding immediate action over months of unpaid salaries, unfulfilled Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), and the lack of adequate healthcare and pension benefits. The striking staff have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to address these pressing issues, which have left many facing severe financial distress.
The protest which began at the university before moving to key government offices, including the Kenya Parliament, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Education. Members of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), led by Fred Sawenga, have rallied around the urgent need for the government to honor its obligations to lecturers and staff, who have not received their salaries for several months. This includes the crucial December pay, which has not been disbursed despite the academic year continuing.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) TUK Chapter Secretary General Fred Sawenga stated “It is an intolerable situation. Lecturers and staff have gone without pay for months, forcing many into debt and despair. Some cannot even meet basic needs. Many of the lecturers, who rely on their salaries to support their families, are now struggling with unpaid bills and loans”
Jacob Musembi, a representative of the Technical University of Kenya, added to the mounting frustration, calling out the government for failing to prioritize education sector workers. “The lecturers’ financial situation has been further worsened by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), which has blacklisted many on the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) due to unpaid taxes,” Musembi said. He emphasized the unfairness of penalizing lecturers who have dedicated their careers to educating the nation’s future, pointing out the compounded burden on staff already struggling to meet basic needs.
In addition to demanding salary payments, the union is calling for the government to honor outstanding CBA agreements, provide comprehensive healthcare, and ensure that pension benefits are paid on time. These, they argue, are basic rights for all workers, particularly in public institutions like TUK.
The lecturers have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s response to previous demands, calling for more robust and sustained intervention from Parliament, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Education. “Today, we demand accountability. It is time for Parliament, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Education to act decisively,” said Sawenga. “Our staff have not been paid since last year, and this cannot continue.”
In an effort to expedite the resolution of the matter, the union has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding full payment of all salaries owed. Failure to meet this demand, the union warned, would lead to intensified protests and the possible shutdown of university operations.
The striking lecturers are firm in their resolve, declaring they will continue their demonstrations until their grievances are fully addressed. The prolonged delay in salary payments, they caution, threatens to derail the university’s academic calendar, which could have far-reaching consequences for students, faculty, and the institution as a whole.
As the strike continues to gather momentum, pressure is mounting on the government to take immediate action to resolve the crisis, before it escalates further and causes irreversible damage to the academic institution’s reputation and operations.