The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) has refuted claims suggesting it will shut down for three months due to financial difficulties, terming the reports as false and misleading.
In a statement released on Friday, the university firmly denied the authenticity of a document circulating widely on social media, which alleged that TUK would suspend operations starting Monday, April 21. The university administration reassured the public that academic activities were ongoing and that the institution remains open.
“This is to clarify that the document circulating online is FAKE. The Technical University of Kenya is operational, and all scheduled classes are continuing without interruption,” the university stated.
The counterfeit memo, which falsely appeared to be signed by Deputy Vice Chancellor Benedict Mutua, claimed that the institution had opted for a three-month shutdown following a parliamentary declaration of insolvency tied to its massive debt burden. It also purportedly barred students and staff from accessing the campus premises.
The fake report emerged just days after the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Administration declared TUK insolvent, citing a staggering Ksh12 billion debt that has plagued the institution for over a decade. The university’s leadership was summoned by the committee to address concerns surrounding its financial state.
During the session, Deputy Vice Chancellor Mutua admitted that the university has faced persistent financial constraints since it was chartered in 2013. He revealed that many employees have not received full salaries for years.
“From the time we became a chartered institution, staff have never received their full salaries,” Mutua disclosed to the committee.
He explained that part of the issue stems from overstaffing, which has outpaced the university’s financial capacity, making it difficult to fulfill payroll obligations.
Despite the financial strain, the university maintains that it has not and will not be closing, urging the public to rely only on official communication channels for accurate information.
