The government has until January 14 to resolve the delayed payment of December 2024 salaries for employees at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), university staff unions have warned.
In a statement on Sunday, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEHIA) criticised the government and TUK management for failing to pay staff on time, terming it a violation of workers’ rights under the Employment Act 2007 and the Kenyan Constitution.
“Our members have not received their December 2024 salaries after offering their services as per their contractual terms. This is a contravention of Part IV (18) of the Employment Act 2007 and Chapter 4(1), 41 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” the unions said.
The Unions decried that the delayed salaries have compounded financial challenges for TUK workers, with unions pointing to the non-remittance of statutory and third-party deductions as a key issue.
They noted that loan repayments have remained outstanding for more than ten months, exposing workers to prosecution, blacklisting by credit reference bureaus, and auction threats.
“Members cannot get clearance from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) due to outstanding PAYE amounting to over Sh4.1 billion,” the unions stated.
They also highlighted the collapse of the Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme (SRBS), which was dissolved in 2017 following a court ruling, resulting in the loss of Sh5.3 billion in savings. Despite the legal requirement, the employer has not established a new retirement scheme for staff.
The unions further accused the university of neglecting staff promotions, particularly for young scholars who have completed their studies but remain stuck in contract positions.
To press their demands, the unions announced a major picket scheduled for January 14, during which they plan to present petitions to the National Assembly, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education.
“We demand immediate payment of December salaries and a resolution to these long-standing financial grievances. If this is not addressed, the Technical University of Kenya risks a complete shutdown,” the unions warned.
