Technical University of Kenya students protest over indefinite closure of school
A section of students at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, staged protests after the school was indefinitely closed following another strike by lecturers.
The students who took to the streets now want the university reopened for learning after it was closed down in a memo by the institution’s academic registrar Moses Wamalwa.
“We would like to inform all the members of staff and the student fraternity that the University Senate in its special meeting held on 3rd February 2025 resolved to suspend the diploma and undergraduate University Examinations scheduled for 3rd-15th February 2025 due to the ongoing industrial action by members of staff of UASU and KUSU,” the memo read in part.
“Consequently, all diploma and undergraduate students are directed to vacate the University premises by 2:45 pm today Monday, February 3, 2025. Subsequently, the students in the halls of residence should vacate the premises by 5.00 pm today February 3, 2025. Please note that the suspension takes effect immediately.”
Staff strike
The university’s academic staff began their strike on January 23, 2025, following the expiry of a strike notice which they said had been sent to the Ministry of Education, Treasury and parliament.
The dons protested that they had yet to receive their salaries from September 2024 and that their statutory deductions were not being remitted to the relevant bodies.
The lecturer’s strike was joined by students, resulting in a decision by the institution’s management to close down the university indefinitely for undergraduate and diploma students.
Student issues
On February 4, 2025, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino pleaded with the university administration to spare students who had participated in the staff strike from victimization.
“I ask your office to embrace dialogue with the students and lecturers to avert further crisis at the University. Reopen the University for students to resume learning immediately. Most importantly, do not victimize any student leader or any lecturer regarding the same,” Owino said.
The other issue raised by the students were discrimination, closure of the school canteen and the postponement of the semester exams.
