Over 40 lecturers of Technical University of Kenya interdicted for participating in nationwide strike

A view of the entrance to the Technical University of Kenya. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Lucy Mumbi
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

The Technical University of Kenya began its own protest after issuing interdiction letters to more than 40 academic staff participating in the strike. As protest songs reverberated across campuses, lecture halls remained empty for the 34th consecutive day.

More than 40 lecturers from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) have been interdicted for participating in the ongoing nationwide lecturers’ strike that has entered its 34th day, deepening the crisis in public universities.

The move has triggered a parallel protest at TUK, even as teaching across public universities remains suspended.

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The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) have maintained that classes will not resume until the government releases the pending Sh7.9 billion pay increment agreed upon in the 2019–2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

According to UASU TUK Secretary General Fred Sawenja, the unions are waiting for a court ruling set for December 11.

“The court has directed that if the government won’t resolve the CBA issue and strike within 10 days, it will give a ruling on December 11,” Sawenja said.

The Technical University of Kenya began its own protest after issuing interdiction letters to more than 40 academic staff participating in the strike. As protest songs reverberated across campuses, lecture halls remained empty for the 34th consecutive day.

UASU National Deputy Secretary General Jacob Musembi said the TUK administration had failed to honour the March agreement, which included a commitment to pay full salaries starting in July.

“One of our issues is that when we ended our strike in March, we agreed they would pay full salaries from July. It’s now September, and they haven’t, contrary to the return-to-work formula,” Musembi said.

Sawenja criticised the interdictions as attempts to intimidate staff. “They are using interdiction letters to intimidate us; we won’t bow down,” he said.

The interdicted TUK lecturers, many of whom were leading the nationwide strike, reported finding the main gate locked when they arrived and later received letters of interdiction. They have vowed to continue both the national and TUK-level strikes until their demands are met.

“The people we are demanding our rights from are harassing us by interdicting us and paying half salaries. If they are so efficient, why can’t they be efficient in paying full salaries?” Andrew Musungu, KUSU TUK Secretary General, posed.

Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has dismissed the lecturers’ claim of Sh7.9 billion, saying the government owes only Sh624 million. He labelled the ongoing industrial action as illegal.

The CS said the ministry is willing to engage the unions in dialogue to agree on how to settle the outstanding Sh624 million through what he termed “objective discussions.”

He noted that while lecturers claim to have received Sh8.8 billion between 2020 and 2021 following the signing of the 2017–2021 CBA, they insist Sh7.9 billion remains unpaid. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), however, has disputed that figure.

“SRC has advised that Sh7.2 billion of the amount claimed by the unions was already paid through normal annual salary increments, leaving only Sh624 million outstanding. The difference in implementation is a matter we are ready to resolve amicably through objective discussions,” Ogamba said.