The crisis in Kenya’s public universities has escalated after the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) interdicted more than 40 lecturers for participating in the ongoing nationwide strike, now in its 34th day.
The interdictions have sparked a fresh wave of protests at TUK, where academic staff arrived to find the university gates locked and were later served with suspension letters. The affected lecturers, many of whom are union leaders, have vowed to continue both the national and campus-level strikes until their grievances are addressed.
“This is harassment. They are quick to issue interdiction letters and pay us half salaries, yet they can’t show the same urgency in fulfilling the CBA,” said Andrew Musungu, Secretary General of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) at TUK.
The strike, led by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and KUSU, stems from the government’s alleged failure to honor a Sh7.9 billion salary increment agreed upon in the 2019-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The unions argue that despite receiving Sh8.8 billion between 2020 and 2021, a significant balance remains unpaid.
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UASU TUK Secretary General Fred Sawenja said the unions are awaiting a court ruling scheduled for December 11. “The court has given the government 10 days to resolve the matter. If not, a ruling will be issued,” he stated.
UASU National Deputy Secretary General Jacob Musembi accused the TUK administration of reneging on a March return-to-work agreement that promised full salary payments starting July. “It’s now September, and they’ve failed to honor that deal,” he said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has dismissed the unions’ Sh7.9 billion claim, asserting that only Sh624 million remains outstanding. He labeled the strike illegal but expressed willingness to engage in “objective discussions” to resolve the impasse.
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According to Ogamba, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has clarified that Sh7.2 billion of the disputed amount was already disbursed through standard annual increments. He added that under the current 2021–2025 CBA, the government has already released Sh9.76 billion in three tranches.
Despite the government’s position, lecture halls across the country public universities remain deserted, with union leaders insisting that no teaching will resume until the full CBA obligations are met, but the development at TUK, has only hardened the lecturers’ resolve.
“They are trying to intimidate us, but we won’t bow down,” said Sawenja. “We are fighting for what is rightfully ours.”
By Masaki Enock
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