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The Ministry of Education has introduced a framework aimed at establishing a sustainable agreement to facilitate a structured return-to-work plan for staff at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba shared this update following talks with union representatives from TUK, the University Academic Staff Union, and the Kenya Universities Staff Union. The discussions were centered around the workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“The discussions focused on the return-to-work plan, increasing student enrollment, enhancing the organizational structure, and strengthening the university system as a whole,” Ogamba explained to reporters after the meeting.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing future strikes by implementing proactive measures in all universities.
This announcement follows a week after police clashed with TUK students who were protesting the institution’s indefinite closure. The students demonstrated at Jogoo House, hoping to meet Ogamba to address the situation.
TUK was shut down on February 3 due to staff strikes over unpaid salaries, and students have called for its immediate reopening along with the resolution of staff issues to allow academic activities to resume.
Earlier, in January, the university’s Senate had decided to close the institution indefinitely due to the strike, leading to the suspension of six students who were accused of organizing protests that disrupted exams.
However, on February 2, Vice-Chancellor Professor Benedict Mutua reversed the suspensions after consultations with the University Management Board (UMB) and the Student Association of TUK (SATUK) Council.
“The university has decided to lift the suspensions of the six students. The Vice-Chancellor will engage with the affected students in a constructive dialogue,” Mutua stated.
