The ongoing strike at the Technical University of Kenya, led by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), has entered its second day. Lecturers are continuing their boycott of work as they push for improved working conditions and the implementation of their 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga announced the strike following a meeting of the union’s National Executive Committee. “We are demanding salary increments as per the CBA, immediate payment of overdue salaries, and proper remittance of statutory and third-party deductions,” Wasonga stated.
Wasonga also highlighted critical issues faced by the university staff: “Most public universities have dysfunctional medical schemes, and the failure to remit NHIF deductions has worsened the situation, stressing the high rate of suffering among the tutors.”
The strike follows a 7-day ultimatum issued by UASU on August 26, which expired without the university addressing their demands. Key issues include:
- Implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA
- Salary increments as outlined in the CBA
- Immediate payment of overdue salaries
- Remittance of statutory deductions including NSSF, NHIF, and AHL
- Investigation into the reportedly insolvent Staff Retirement and Benefits Scheme (TUK-SRBS)
The union has condemned recent salary cuts at the university, with staff reportedly receiving only 65% of their July pay. “We will not resume duty until the aforementioned issues are satisfactorily addressed,” a union representative emphasized.
This industrial action adds to the ongoing secondary school teachers’ strike, which has already disrupted learning in public schools for over a week. As the strike persists, students, particularly first-years, are left uncertain about the commencement of their classes. The university administration has yet to issue an official statement on how they plan to address the lecturers’ demands or mitigate the impact on students’ academic schedules.
