Mbadi and Ogamba Under Fire Over Billions in Unpaid TUK Pensions

The Senate’s Labour and Social Welfare Committee has strongly condemned the Ministry of Education and National Treasury for mishandling the growing pension problem at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) amid mounting debts worth billions of shillings owed to retired staff.

Lawmakers accused the two ministries of neglecting former employees, warning that the continued delay in disbursing funds has worsened the plight of pensioners.

The committee, chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, heard that although the process of verifying pension records is nearly complete, no payments have been made due to failure by the government to release the promised funds.

Senators expressed frustration that administrative progress had not translated into financial relief for affected retirees.

Long’et Terer, the liquidator overseeing the pension scheme, told the committee that most member records had been “cleaned up and validated,” adding that a comprehensive report would be ready by the end of the month.

However, lawmakers maintained that such technical milestones were meaningless without actual disbursement of benefits to pensioners.

Mounting Pressure on Ministries

TUK Vice-Chancellor Prof Benedict Mutua painted a grim picture of the human toll of the crisis, describing daily scenes of anxious retirees seeking answers.

“We are looking to this honourable committee to help the university get the funds,” he said, noting that several pensioners had suffered health complications due to stress while queuing outside his office.

He further told senators that the university had already met its obligations under a return-to-work agreement signed on 17 March 2025.

“We have fulfilled our part and are now waiting for the government to honour its commitments,” Prof Mutua stated, referencing the agreed initial payment of Ksh 500 million into the pension scheme, which has yet to be released.

Staff representatives echoed the concerns, accusing the Ministry of Education of long-standing neglect.

Fred Sawenja, Secretary of the UASU-TUK Chapter, told the committee that the pension liability had ballooned significantly.

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“The outstanding amount was Ksh 4.2 billion when the agreement was signed, rose to Ksh 6.2 billion, and is likely even higher now,” he said.

Sawenja also criticised unfulfilled budgetary promises.

“The Ministry pledged Ksh 1.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, with Ksh 500 million earmarked for pensions, but gave us zero,” he said, adding that a separate ksh 1 billion commitment had similarly failed to materialise.

Senators Seek Accountability

The situation has been felt across wide areas, with dependents of the late retirees going unpaid and the existing staff unable to access any pension funds.

According to Treasury’s Michael Kagika, the delay was due to budgeting procedures, whereby allocation is done by sector working groups.

His response, however, did little to satisfy the committee.

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Senator Stewart Madzayo pressed for urgency, asking, “When does the Treasury intend to pay this money? Are they waiting for them to die?”

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu questioned disparities in funding across public universities, stating, “How is it that TUK receives nothing while another institution requesting Ksh 3.8 billion reportedly gets Ksh 6 billion?”

Kagika pledged to relay the committee’s concerns to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary and promised a detailed response regarding the delayed Ksh 500 million.

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Senate Committee members on Labour and Social Welfare in a meeting during the discussion where they sharply criticised the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury over their handling of an escalating pension crisis at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK). PHOTO/ POK