Moi University Crisis Deepens as Strike Talks Collapse

The ongoing crisis at Moi University has reached a critical juncture as talks aimed at resolving the lecturers’ strike have collapsed. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) is demanding the release of Sh5 billion that was deducted from lecturers’ salaries for their pension scheme but has yet to be remitted by the university. This ongoing strike, now in its fourth week, has raised significant concerns about the future of education at the institution and the welfare of its academic staff.

The collapse of the reconciliation talks, which were mediated by the Ministry of Labour in Eldoret, has intensified the situation. Labour officer Carolyne Chemursoi, who chaired the meetings, will issue disagreement certificates to both UASU and the university council, signifying a formal breakdown in negotiations. UASU Secretary for the Moi University chapter, Nyabuta Ojuki, expressed frustration over the university council’s failure to commit to addressing the union’s demands. “We have held several meetings but eventually the talks have collapsed mainly because the university council, which is our employer, failed to commit itself on any of the issues we raised,” he stated.

Among the union’s key grievances are the non-implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), particularly the latest one that covers the period from 2021 to 2025. The union has insisted that the university release the Sh5 billion deducted for pensions, alongside another Sh1.3 billion deducted for servicing bank loans. The failure to remit these funds has resulted in severe financial strain on lecturers, with 53 employees reportedly facing legal action from banks for defaulting on loans that were deducted but not forwarded by the university.

Chairman of UASU at Moi University, Richard Okero, emphasized the urgency of their demands. “We will not allow any more suffering for our members by calling off the strike. If we can’t be assured of our pension, that means miserable lives in the future and that is totally unacceptable,” he stated. The union’s insistence on addressing these financial grievances reflects a broader concern about the long-term viability of the academic staff’s livelihoods.

The staff’s discontent is further exacerbated by delayed salary payments for July and August, which have not been addressed despite multiple assurances from the university administration. The Ministry of Labour had intervened at the request of university council chairman Humphrey Njoroge, but after four meetings yielded no resolution, the situation has escalated. “They have continued to give us false promises and unless they pay, we will not resume work,” Ojuki said.

Njoroge had previously appealed to UASU to call off the strike while negotiations were ongoing, but the union has remained steadfast in its position. UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga warned that if the university does not meet the lecturers’ demands, a full-scale strike involving all university workers may be imminent. “The government has neglected institutions of higher learning, and we are prepared to call for solidarity strikes across all universities,” he asserted.

Last week, UASU officials led a demonstration in Eldoret, demanding the immediate payment of delayed salaries and the implementation of their previous CBAs. The situation at Moi University serves as a stark reminder of the broader issues plaguing Kenya’s higher education sector, where financial mismanagement and neglect can have dire consequences for both staff and students.

As the crisis deepens, the future of academic instruction at Moi University hangs in the balance, with lecturers standing firm in their demands for financial accountability and fair treatment. Without resolution, the implications for educational quality and institutional stability could be severe, affecting not only the university but also the broader educational landscape in Kenya.