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{
    "id": 1526909,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1526909/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 59,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the welfare of members of staff of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) that was awarded a charter on 15th January 2013. The institution took over from the now defunct Kenya Polytechnic, which was a leading institution of education and training at the tertiary level in Kenya. However, over the past few years, audit reports by the Auditor-General have cited TUK as being among 23 out of 40 universities facing severe financial instability due to significant debts. More distressingly, the university was indefinitely closed on 3rd January 2025 following protests by lecturers. They were demanding improved working conditions and disbursement of salaries overdue since December 2024. The Labour Relations Act and the Employment Act guarantee the fundamental rights of employees that include rights against servitude, conducive working conditions, and timely payment of remuneration. Despite the legal requirements, the management of TUK has repeatedly failed to honour obligations to pay salaries. Additionally, the institution has failed to remit Pay as You Earn (PAYE) resulting in a debt of Ksh5 billion as at 30th June 2024. The university had pending bills of approximately Ksh11 billion. As a result, more than 1,500 employees face a bleak future in retirement after it emerged that the institution had lost nearly all their pension savings. On 15th July 2024, the High Court held that their staff retirement benefits scheme was to be wound up. Therefore, the situation in the institution that was once a beacon of academic excellence is becoming dire. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education on the following: 1. The plans put in place by the Ministry of Education to address the financial constraints faced by the Technical University of Kenya, including timely payment of salaries to staff and remittance of statutory deductions. 2. The measures taken by the University Council and the Vice-Chancellor to address issues of retirement benefits owed to staff under the staff retirement benefit scheme and remittance of statutory and third party obligations. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}