Kiirua TTI Staff Protest Prolonged Salary Delays, Abrupt Contract Cuts, and Poor Management Under New Principal

Staff at Kiirua Technical Training Institute (Kiirua TTI) in Meru County are protesting what they describe as poor management and harsh employment conditions under the new principal, with tensions rising over pay delays, contract changes, and workplace morale.

At the centre of the complaints is Principal David Gituma, with workers blaming his management for delayed pay, shorter contracts, and a worsening mood among staff.

Workers say salary payments are delayed, leaving employees under financial strain and forcing them to wait longer than expected for wages they depend on for daily survival.

They say the delays have become a recurring issue that has affected staff stability and trust in administration.

Employees also say contract terms have been reduced from one year to four months, a move they say has left many workers uncertain about their future at the institution.

They describe the change as abrupt and destabilizing, arguing that it has weakened job security and created anxiety across departments.

Staff further report that the working environment has deteriorated, pointing to weak communication from management, unclear administrative decisions, and a lack of consistent engagement on employment matters affecting workers.

The workers say the situation has affected morale across the institution, with many employees feeling sidelined and unsettled by what they describe as shifting employment terms and delayed payments.

Additional complaints point to growing frustration over staff welfare, with employees saying there is a widening gap between management decisions and the realities faced by workers in daily operations at the public institution.

Kiirua Technical Training Institute operates under the Ministry of Education through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), offering artisan, craft, certificate, and diploma programmes in technical and professional fields.

Staff are now calling on TVETA to step in and conduct an urgent review, saying the situation reflects breakdowns in staffing stability, contract management, and administrative accountability that require immediate regulatory attention.

Attention is being directed to Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer Timothy Nyongesa Katiambo, with workers pushing for a direct inspection of operations at the institution to establish whether salary delays, shortened contract periods, and internal management decisions align with required standards for public training institutions.

Staff say corrective action is needed where gaps are identified, warning that continued uncertainty in employment terms and administration risks further weakening morale and disrupting normal operations at the institution.

"Hello Cyprian. Please hide my identity. I am a staff member at Kiirua Technical Training Institute (Kiirua TTI), and I want to raise serious concerns about how the institution is being run under the new principal. Salaries are no longer coming on time. At times we wait until mid-month to be paid, and this has really messed up people’s lives. Most of us depend on that salary for rent, school fees, and basic survival, so the delays are putting a lot of pressure on staff. Contracts have also changed without proper explanation. What used to be one-year contracts have now been cut down to about four months. Nobody feels secure anymore. You are always wondering whether you will be retained or dropped, and it has killed morale completely. The working environment has become tense. Communication from management is poor, and staff are rarely involved in decisions that affect us directly. People just get told what has changed without consultation or clear reasoning. There is also a general feeling among workers that the institution is no longer stable. People are frustrated, demoralized, and constantly worried about their jobs and income. We are calling on the relevant education and labour authorities to look into what is happening at Kiirua TTI because the situation is affecting staff welfare and the normal running of the institution."