Moi University has escalated its response to the ongoing lecturers’ strike by suspending officials of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and sending out show-cause letters to more than 1,000 lecturers who have participated in the strike. The industrial action, which has now stretched over two months, has completely halted learning at one of Kenya’s most prominent universities, despite efforts by management to reopen the institution.
The UASU officials, led by branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta, confirmed that they had received suspension letters signed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration, Professor Kirimi Kiriamiti. In addition to the suspension, university security has reportedly barred these officials from entering the campus, forcing them to hold meetings outside the university’s gates.
In a statement to the media, Ojuki emphasized that the union officials were not deterred by the university’s measures and maintained that the lecturers would continue to withhold their services until all outstanding salary-related dues are fully paid. “We will not be shaken, and we remain on strike until we are paid all our dues,” Ojuki said, reflecting the union’s steadfast stance despite management’s attempt to pressure them into resuming work.
The university reopened on November 11, 2024, with students reporting back to campus; however, learning has remained paralyzed as lecturers and other university staff continued to boycott duties. Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kosgey had previously issued a circular instructing students and lecturers that classes would resume, but UASU’s leadership has refused to comply, citing the administration’s failure to settle outstanding dues.
The union’s grievance revolves around unpaid dues amounting to more than KSh11 billion. These include contributions for the workers’ pension scheme, which amounts to over KSh5 billion, as well as KSh1.2 billion for outstanding bank loans. According to UASU, the university’s financial obligations to its staff are crippling, and the administration’s promises to settle the arrears have not materialized.
Attempts by the Moi University administration to negotiate a return-to-work agreement with the lecturers have been unsuccessful. UASU officials refused to attend meetings organized by the university management, asserting that it is only the university council that has the legal mandate to negotiate with the union. According to Ojuki, the management’s invitation to talks held on weekends was invalid, as it overstepped their authority. “The management is not our employer. The law says we are employed by the council, which is the one with the mandate to negotiate with us,” he explained, calling the recent discussions “illegal.”
Amid the escalating crisis, the parliamentary education committee, chaired by Nandi Hills MP Julius Melly, intervened last week, convening a crisis meeting at Moi University to understand the standoff and explore potential solutions. Hundreds of lecturers and other university staff confronted the committee, demanding the immediate removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Kosgey and his team, whom they hold responsible for the university’s financial mismanagement and lack of communication.
Addressing the university staff after the meeting, Melly acknowledged the severity of Moi University’s financial woes and hinted that a change in leadership might be necessary to restore stability. He noted that the university’s administrative and financial issues may call for a more systemic intervention from the Ministry of Education, along with changes to leadership structures.
Despite the committee’s recommendations that the university strike a quick return-to-work deal with its employees, union officials assert that the solution to the strike is complex and cannot be achieved without first settling the significant arrears owed. “A strike is a process that cannot be resolved easily,” Ojuki said, insisting that the union would not agree to any deal without full payment of dues.
Moi University’s reputation has suffered as the strike continues to keep students out of classrooms, affecting the academic calendar and raising concerns about the quality of education. The ongoing dispute underscores broader issues within Kenya’s public university sector, where financial challenges, administrative conflicts, and delayed disbursements are frequent.
The Moi University management now faces intense scrutiny, with staff, students, and government officials alike calling for immediate action to prevent further deterioration of the institution’s learning environment. For the lecturers, who remain resolute, the goal remains clear: full compensation of their dues before they return to class.
As the standoff persists, all eyes are on the government and university council to provide a resolution, one that not only settles the arrears but also addresses systemic challenges facing Kenya’s higher education system.
