Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo Raises Concern On Welfare Of Technical University Of Kenya Staff
Dr Wilberforce Oundo
By MTK Correspondents
A lawmaker has raised concern over the financial status of The Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo has called for immediate intervention to address the financial instability at the TUK, which has left staff without salaries and forced the indefinite closure of the institution.
Raising the matter in the National Assembly, Oundo requested a statement from the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the welfare of TUK staff, citing delayed salaries, unremitted statutory deductions, and the collapse of the university’s pension scheme.
He noted that the institution, which was awarded a charter in 2013, has been struggling financially in recent years.
According to the Auditor-General’s reports, TUK is among 23 out of 40 public universities facing severe financial instability, with pending bills amounting to KSh11 billion as of June 30 last year. The university also owes KSh5 billion in unremitted Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes.
The crisis escalated on February 3, this year when the institution was indefinitely closed following protests by lecturers demanding improved working conditions and payment of salaries overdue since December 2024.
“The Labour Relations Act and the Employment Act guarantee the fundamental rights of employees, including protection from servitude, conducive working conditions, and timely remuneration. It is unacceptable that TUK management has failed to honor these obligations,” said Oundo.
Adding to the challenges of university staff, he noted that over 1,500 employees face uncertainty in retirement after their pension savings were lost. On July 5, 2024, the High Court ordered the winding up of TUK’s staff retirement benefits scheme, leaving many without financial security.
The MP asked the Education Ministry and the university administration to outline steps to resolve the financial crisis, compensate affected staff, and prevent future mismanagement. He sought clarification on government plans to stabilize the university’s finances, including the timely payment of staff salaries and statutory deductions.
“What are the measures taken by the University Council and Vice-Chancellor to address the issues of retirement benefits owed to staff under the staff retirement benefit scheme and remittance of
statutory and third-party obligations,” said Oundo.
He further sought the actions being undertaken to compensate staff members affected in winding-up of the retirement scheme and measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such financial mismanagement in the future and steps being taken to re-open the institution, specifying the timelines, in order to safeguard studentsfrom further interruption of their academic programme.
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