In 2019, Kenya's public universities faced a financial crisis as staff reported delayed salaries and unpaid statutory deductions, according to the Kenya Universities Staff Union. Charles Mukhwaya, the union's secretary general, stated that government budget cuts had reduced university funding by half, leading to unpaid NHIF, NSSF, and pension contributions.
Mukhwaya accused some institutions of misappropriating funds, saying corruption remained a concern. 'I cannot rule out corruption in our institutions,' he said, calling for investigations. He welcomed the appointment of Professor George Magoha as cabinet secretary for education, urging immediate collaboration with the Salaries and Numeration Commission to address salary disputes.
