The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) has refuted claims that it has temporarily shut down due to financial difficulties. This follows the circulation of a letter dated April 17, 2025, alleging the institution had declared insolvency and would close for three months starting April 21.
In an official statement, TUK dismissed the letter as fake, urging students and staff to disregard it. “Treat this document circulated online as fake. The University has not been closed. Classes and normal operations are on,” the university clarified.
The fake letter, purportedly issued by the university’s management, cited financial collapse and a directive barring access to campus premises. It also claimed the university would remain shut until a satisfactory financial resolution was achieved.
Despite the hoax, the university’s financial woes are no secret. TUK is under intense scrutiny from Parliament over longstanding economic challenges that have significantly strained operations and disrupted learning.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee (PIC) on Governance and Education has now directed the Office of the Auditor-General to conduct a detailed audit of the university’s finances. The audit will span from 2013, the year TUK received its charter, to the present.
The institution is grappling with a staggering Sh12 billion debt. Payroll expenses alone stand at Sh270 million monthly, attributed to an overstretched workforce. Additionally, staff have endured years of salary delays.
On April 17, 2025, TUK Deputy Vice Chancellor Benedict Mutua told the National Assembly’s Committee on Education that no employee has received a full salary since the university’s elevation to charter status. He further revealed that over Sh5 billion in statutory deductions meant for pension funds remain unremitted.
The combination of a bloated payroll, unremitted deductions, and stalled development projects has crippled the university’s financial position.
While classes continue uninterrupted, stakeholders are now keenly awaiting the findings of the upcoming audit, which is expected to offer a path forward for the embattled institution. In the meantime, TUK continues to assure students, staff, and the public that academic activities remain on course.
