MP Demands Urgent Action To Resolve TUK Financial Crisis

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo has called for immediate intervention to address the worsening financial crisis at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), which has left staff without salaries and forced the indefinite closure of the institution.

Raising the issue in the National Assembly, Oundo sought a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the welfare of TUK staff.

He highlighted concerns over delayed salaries, unremitted statutory deductions, and the collapse of the university’s pension scheme, which has left over 1,500 employees facing an uncertain future.

TUK, which received its charter in 2013, has been grappling with financial difficulties in recent years. Auditor-General reports indicate that it is among 23 out of 40 public universities in Kenya facing severe financial instability, with pending bills totaling Ksh. 11 billion as of June 30, 2024. The institution also owes Sh5 billion in unremitted Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes.

The crisis deepened on February 3, 2025, when the university was indefinitely shut down following protests by lecturers demanding improved working conditions and payment of salaries, which have been delayed since December 2024.

“The Labour Relations Act and the Employment Act guarantee employees the right to fair remuneration, protection from servitude, and conducive working conditions. It is unacceptable that TUK management has failed to meet these obligations,” Oundo said.

The financial strain has also affected staff pensions. A High Court ruling on July 5, 2024, ordered the winding up of TUK’s staff retirement benefits scheme, leaving employees without financial security for their retirement.

Oundo has now urged the Ministry of Education and the university administration to outline immediate steps to stabilize TUK’s finances, ensure the timely payment of salaries, and clear statutory deductions. He also demanded clarity on measures taken by the University Council and the Vice-Chancellor to address retirement benefits owed to staff and prevent future financial mismanagement.

Additionally, he called for a clear timeline for reopening the university to prevent further disruption to students’ academic programs.