NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 20 – Staff unions at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) have petitioned Parliament’s Education Committee to intervene in a longstanding welfare crisis, citing years of neglect by the university management and council.
In a petition submitted Tuesday, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) outlined severe grievances, including salary delays, unremitted statutory deductions, and lack of medical cover.
The unions said TUK operations were halted on February 3 due to an industrial strike over chronic labor rights violations.
“For over a decade, TU-K employees have endured mental, social, and economic distress. They want to serve with dignity and retire with security, but this has been denied,” the union representatives told MPs.
Among the key issues raised include salary delays, unremitted statutory deductions, liquidation of TU-K’s staff retirement benefits scheme by the High Court and medical cover termination.
“Today, staff have no access to SHA or alternative medical care, yet deductions continue,” the unions reported.
The unions detailed repeated but unsuccessful attempts to resolve the crisis through strike notices, letters to the vice chancellor, and negotiations with the university council.
A return-to-work formula (RTWF) signed in September 2024 was ignored, leading to a second strike on January 23, 2025, which lasted over 50 days, paralyzing university operations.
Further grievances are career stagnation, with over 300 staff members facing delayed promotions; withheld gratuities for years, loan repayment defaults totaling Sh310 million
The unions urged Parliament to compel TU-K to fully implement the March 17 return-to-work agreement signed with the Education Cabinet Secretary and hold those responsible for financial mismanagement accountable.
“We hope this process restores order at TU-K and deters other public institutions from mismanaging resources,” the unions said.
The Education Committee is expected to make recommendations following the session.
