Moi University Staff Protest Salary Delays, Threaten Strike Over Financial Grievances

Over 3,000 employees of Moi University have engaged in a go-slow, significantly impacting operations at the institution. The workers, citing prolonged salary delays and other financial frustrations, have launched a protest that threatens to escalate into a full-blown strike if their grievances are not addressed promptly.

The protest, led by Richard Okero of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Mary Chepkwemoi, Secretary of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), has drawn significant attention. The employees, who have boycotted work at both the main campus and the College of Health Sciences, are voicing their frustrations over delayed payments and unresolved financial issues.

According to Chepkwemoi, the university has failed to remit July salaries, leaving many staff members struggling to meet their financial commitments. “We have not been paid July salaries,” Chepkwemoi stated. She further criticized the university’s management for not remitting salary deductions to financial institutions, which has led to severe repercussions for staff members. The university’s negligence has reportedly led to some employees facing lawsuits from financial institutions due to the non-remittance of loan repayments, with their assets now at risk of being auctioned.

The discontent among the staff has reached a boiling point, prompting them to petition President William Ruto for intervention. The union officials are demanding a complete overhaul of the university’s management, including the resignation of Vice Chancellor Kosgey and the university council. They argue that the current administration’s failure to address these critical issues threatens the university’s stability and future.

Chepkwemoi’s frustration was palpable as she addressed the media, highlighting the dire financial situation faced by many university employees. “We know Ruto will be in Eldoret to elevate the town to city status, but we are telling him this will be a city of problems with people suffering like us,” she said. The staff’s grievances are not merely about delayed salaries but also about the university’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations over the past seven years, which has compounded their financial distress.

The scale of the protest is indicative of the broader discontent within the university community. Okero, from UASU, emphasized the severity of the situation, revealing that some employees have even died due to the financial stress. He noted that the university’s inability to manage financial deductions has led to severe consequences for many, further exacerbating their plight.

The protesters are calling on President Ruto to ensure that the university’s management is held accountable and to facilitate the appointment of new leadership. “We are asking Ruto to ensure that we have new management at Moi University, failure to which the university will collapse,” Chepkwemoi warned.

At the time of this report, Vice Chancellor Kosgey had not responded to the allegations or the demands of the protesting staff. He was reportedly engaged in a meeting with his aides, with a promise to comment on the issue once the discussions concluded.

The situation at Moi University highlights the growing tension between university management and staff across Kenya. The unresolved salary delays and financial mismanagement have not only caused significant distress among employees but have also raised questions about the broader implications for the institution’s governance and stability.

As the situation develops, the potential for a full strike looms large, with the staff’s demands for immediate action and new management remaining unmet. The university’s leadership will need to address these issues swiftly to prevent further escalation and ensure the institution’s continued operation and stability.