Learning activities at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) were thrown into disarray on Thursday at noon after lecturers and other university staff staged demonstrations over delayed December salaries. The frustrated workers, comprising lecturers, non-teaching staff, and other employees, gathered near the institution’s administration block, chanting solidarity songs and hoisting placards as they demanded immediate disbursement of their salaries by the government.
The protest, which quickly gained momentum, saw staff members marching across the university compound, disrupting normal operations. Videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke captured the disgruntled employees expressing their frustration at what they termed as unfair treatment by the government. The protest was a culmination of growing dissatisfaction following the failure of the government to respond to a seven-day notice issued earlier in January.
The workers had petitioned Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to address their grievances. However, their pleas went unanswered, forcing them to take action. A staff member lamented that their petition highlighted the challenges they faced, which directly affected their welfare and productivity, yet no response had been forthcoming. The seven-day notice had lapsed the previous day, and the workers had made it clear that they would down their tools if their demands were not met.
The protesting workers accused the government of violating their rights under the Employment Act of 2007, emphasizing that the delayed salaries had made it difficult for them to meet their financial obligations. Many staff members voiced concerns about their inability to pay rent, buy food, or take care of their families, stating that the prolonged salary delays had left them in distress.
The strike comes barely two weeks after the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) warned of a similar move due to the government’s failure to honor the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in November last year. UASU Organizing Secretary Onesmas Muluki revealed that the government had failed to implement the agreed-upon salary adjustments, including arrears for October and November, despite previous assurances. According to Muluki, the agreement stipulated that the new salaries for university lecturers would be implemented in December and that arrears for October and November would be paid. However, he expressed frustration that they went for Christmas without receiving the expected salary adjustments.
In November 2023, UASU had called off a three-week-long strike after the government committed to fulfilling the CBA, which was initially valued at Ksh9.76 billion. However, the union now claims that the government has failed to honor its promises, leading to growing unrest among university staff across the country. The recent strike at TUK is a clear indication that patience among lecturers and other university staff is running out, and further unrest could spread to other institutions if the issue remains unresolved.
As the demonstrations continue, the future of learning activities at TUK remains uncertain. Students have expressed concerns about their academic progress, fearing prolonged disruptions if the impasse is not resolved quickly. Lecturers and staff are urging the government to act swiftly to address the issue, warning that failure to do so could result in prolonged strikes across multiple universities, further jeopardizing the higher education sector.
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Learning activities at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) were thrown into disarray on Thursday at noon after lecturers and other university staff staged demonstrations over delayed December salaries. The frustrated workers, comprising lecturers, non-teaching staff, and other employees, gathered near the institution’s administration block, chanting solidarity songs and hoisting placards as they demanded immediate disbursement of their salaries by the government.
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