More pain for Moi University students as lecturers strike again

Moi University staff members have downed their tools, less than a month since they agreed to suspend the strike that started in August last year.

In a joint statement by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) on Friday, the Unions directed all its members to suspend their services indefinitely.

The Unions attributed the resolution to the university's failure to adhere to the terms agreed upon by the stakeholders in the Return to Work Formula.

“Following a meeting of all Members of Staff of Moi University, it has been decided that the industrial action commenced last year in August 2024 be resumed with immediate effect,” read the statement.

“This means that staff are withdrawing all their services to the employer. This regrettable action is occasioned by the failure of the employer to adhere to the Return to Work Formula signed between the parties. We call upon all staff to, therefore, stay away from their workstations until further notice from the Unions."

University lecturers, under UASU, agreed to return to work on November 23, 2024, following the signing of a return-to-work formula with the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF).

The deal included the government's commitment to fully implement the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is valued at Ksh.9.7 billion.

The implementation would occur in three tranches, with the first tranche of Ksh.4.3 billion covering nine months up to June 2025. The remaining Ksh.5.4 billion will be disbursed in two instalments of Ksh.2.7 billion each.

A day after the dons called off the nationwide strike, lecturers from Moi University vowed to keep off lecture halls until their demands were met.

While dons from all universities downed tools due to reasons including non-implementation of the 2021–2025 CBA, those from Moi University were also seeking payment of Ksh.8.6 billion owed to them.

The lecturers downed their tools on August 26, 2024, over the debt that has been accruing since 2016, which is inclusive of unremitted loans, pensions, union fees and other deductions. 

Moi University owes its academic staff Ksh.4.2 billion from unremitted pension, Ksh.1.2 billion from unremitted bank loans, Ksh.1.2 billion as salary arrears, Ksh. 85 million union fees, Ksh.85 million union fees and Ksh.100 million for their welfare societies. 

The university has also not paid Ksh.70 million in benevolent funds, Ksh.50 million in gratuity fees, and Ksh.90 million for their life insurance coverage.

Another Ksh.1.6 billion is owed to lecturers as their insurance premiums have not been paid. This amount is also inclusive of their pay for teaching Privately Sponsored Students and payment for assessing students on industrial attachment. 

The Ksh. 8.6 billion is also inclusive of salary arrears, as the dons are yet to be paid their October 2024, remuneration.