TUK Students Protest Over Reopening of University
Vice Chancellor’s office and Jogoo House under siege
Two weeks after the university’s indefinite closure on February 3, 2025 due to staff strikes over delayed salaries, students have stormed the Vice Chancellor’s office and the Ministry of Education headquarters at Jogoo House demanding for the immediate reopening of the university.
Students Confront University and Government Officials
Students chanted slogans outside Vice Chancellor Prof. Benedict Mutua’s office and called him a thief (Mwizi!) in viral videos. They accused the university leadership of mismanagement and negligence.
They later marched to Jogoo House, which houses the Ministry of Education, demanding answers from the government on the university’s continued closure.
Outside the ministry they chanted:
- “Wanafunzi msilale bado mapambano!” (Students don’t rest, the fight is still on!)
The Ministry of Education has not issued a statement on the students’ concerns.
Why Was TUK Closed?
TUK was closed after university staff went on strike over unpaid salaries and unfulfilled labor agreements.
Key Issues Behind the Crisis
- Delayed Salaries: Staff have not been paid since December 2024 and some claim they have not been paid since September 2024.
- Unpaid Deductions: The university has not remitted statutory deductions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and various Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs).
- Broken Promises: Staff unions claim the university has failed to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) which outline salary increments and better working conditions.
The situation escalated when lecturers downed their tools after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) issued a seven-day strike notice which expired without the administration taking action.
Exams Suspended, Students EvictedThe Academic Registrar Dr. Moses Wamalwa announced that all diploma and undergraduate exams scheduled for February 3-15 were suspended due to the strike.
Following this decision, students were:
- Ordered to vacate the university premises by 2:45 PM.
- Those living in on-campus housing had until 5:00 PM to leave.
The indefinite closure has left thousands of students stranded, unsure of when they will resume their studies.
What’s Next?
With no statement from the Ministry of Education or the university administration, students have vowed to continue protests until TUK reopens.
The TUK crisis is part of a broader financial crisis in Kenya’s public universities where staff strikes over unpaid wages and mismanagement are becoming common.
For now students, lecturers and workers are in limbo waiting for a solution that will determine the fate of one of Kenya’s best technical institutions.