Moi University lecturers down tools, want management disbanded

The lecturers are now calling for the disbandment of the university's council for what they term mismanagement.

Led by Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Moi University chapter chairman Richard Okero and the national trustee Jane Michael, the dons cited a number of issues of concern, which they say have forced them to down tools.

Some of the issues at hand include:

- Unpaid  Salaries since July 2024. 

- Un-remitted loans and other deductions for the last 3 years.

- Un-remitted pensions (both employee and employer contribution) for  the last 3 years.

- Un-remitted NSSF.

- Moi is the only university that has not implemented the 2017-2021 CBA scale. Employees still earning old salaries, so are owed arrears.

- Unpaid student supervision allowances (industrial attachment and teaching practice) yet this is money students pay to the university separate from tuition fees. 

The lecturers call on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to move with speed and probe an alleged disappearance of over Ksh.1 billion from the new funding model.

The lecturers have vowed not to resume work until their demands are met.

This despite the university council through its Chairman Dr. Humphrey Njuguna saying the university has already engaged the government to disburse money to cater for the salaries and other remittances. 

"This is to inform you that the University Council is actively engaging the government through the Ministry of Education, with a view to resolve the funding shortfall occasioned by the reduced budget for the Financial Year 2024/2025, which has led to the university's inability to pay staff the July 2024 salaries," the council said.

In a subsequent letter to the enraged dons, University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey said that Moi University has managed to secure funding from then government, and that the July salaries would start reflecting from Tuesday, August 27.

The VC begged the dons to call off the strike. 

However, by Monday, the lecturers had downed their tools, and demanded that the University Council be disbanded, and called on the EACC to investigate misappropriation of funds. 

Moi University has been on a steady decline in recent years, with workers facing hardships. Students too continue to encounter challenges such as inadequate accommodation.