By Eddah Waithaka
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) remains shut as the ongoing industrial action by staff enters its 17th day, with union leaders accusing the government and university management of failing to address their grievances.
Speaking during the press briefing, Fred Sawenja, Chapter Secretary of the Workers’ Union of TUK (UASU-TUK), has vowed that the strike will continue until the institution’s leadership and the Ministry of Education provide a lasting solution to the crisis.
The strike, which began on January 25, has seen staff completely withdraw their labor, leading to the closure of the university. Sawenja emphasized that the union warned the Minister of Education on January 14, but the minister has taken no action to resolve the issues raised in their petition.
“The issues we raised in our notice of strike to the employer, Parliament, the Minister of Education, and the Treasury remain unaddressed,” Sawenja stated. “We have not received any communication or proposal from these bodies. We will continue our strike until our demands are formally addressed.”
The union is calling for more than temporary fixes. “This is not about patchwork or painkillers. We need a surgical operation to address the deep-rooted problems plaguing this institution,” Sawenja said. He warned that TUK is “on its deathbed” and urged stakeholders to act swiftly to save it from collapse.
In a bid to escalate their demands, the union petitioned Parliament last Thursday, February 13, and presented their case to the Speaker of the National Assembly. They are now urging lawmakers to prioritize the matter and bring it before the National Assembly Education Committee.
“We want our issue on the floor of the House tomorrow. We want it addressed with urgency,” Sawenja said. He also called on the Cabinet Secretary for Education to explain why the ministry failed to act after receiving the union’s petition on January 14, allowing the institution to shut down and causing “unimaginable pain to students and their parents.”
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The union has also extended an olive branch to the government, submitting a letter to the Cabinet Secretary on February 14, proposing a stakeholders’ meeting to resolve the crisis. However, they are yet to receive a response. “We gave them two options: meet today or Friday. They have not replied, and we wonder if they are serious about solving these issues,” Sawenja said.
Revelations from the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2023-2024 have further fueled the strike by exposing alleged financial mismanagement at the university. The report states that while the institution has consistently claimed underfunding, it spent millions on foreign and local trips.
Additionally, the report confirmed that a building officially opened by the President in 2022, initially reported to cost Ksh 600 million, actually cost Ksh 1.2 billion.
The union has also raised concerns about the mismanagement of staff pension funds, with Ksh 2.8 billion reportedly unaccounted for. “Our pension scheme collapsed because of this mismanagement. If that money had been properly utilized, the scheme would still be thriving today,” Sawenja said.
In light of these revelations, the union has called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate TUK as a “potential crime scene” and hold those responsible accountable.
As the strike continues, Sawenja reiterated the resolve of TUK staff. “Our members are tired, but nothing can threaten or stop. We will stay put until the National Assembly and the Minister of Education come to TUK with a lasting solution,” he declared.
The union’s demands now rest heavily on Parliament’s willingness to act, as the strike continues to disrupt academic activities and leave students in limbo.
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