The academic staff at Moi University have commenced a full-scale strike, escalating a long-standing standoff over delayed salaries and the failure of the institution to implement the 2017-2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The strike, led by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), was officially launched on Monday, August 26, at the College of Health Sciences in Eldoret, following a consultative meeting with national union officials.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute between Moi University’s management and its academic staff has been brewing for years, with the institution repeatedly failing to honor the CBA agreed upon in 2017. The CBA, which was supposed to be implemented by 2022, included provisions for salary increases and improved working conditions for university staff. However, despite these agreements, Moi University has faced ongoing financial difficulties, leading to repeated delays in salary payments and other financial obligations.
Over the past three weeks, more than 3,000 university employees, including academic staff, have staged a go-slow, protesting against the frequent salary delays and the university’s failure to meet other critical work-related demands. The situation has worsened, with some staff members not receiving their salaries for two months, and those on contracts have gone unpaid for as long as eight months. This financial strain has led to severe hardship among the staff, with reports of employees accumulating heavy debts, facing legal action from financial institutions, and even suffering health complications due to the stress caused by these delays.
Union’s Stance and Demands
UASU branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta, in a statement on Monday, emphasized the union’s determination to see through the strike until all their demands are met. “As an academic member of staff whose salary not only gets paid perennially late but has lately not been paid for two months now, we say no to such continued mistreatment of our members,” Ojuki declared. The union is adamant that the strike will only be called off once a Return to Work Formula (RTWF) is negotiated and signed, ensuring that all grievances, particularly regarding salary payments and the implementation of the CBA, are addressed.
The union’s resolve comes despite a meeting last week between Moi University’s management, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kosgey, and the university council, where UASU officials were invited to discuss the ongoing salary crisis. According to Council Chairman Dr. Humphrey Njoroge, the meeting was meant to “consult with the union and agree on a way forward” to resolve the issues. However, UASU officials, led by Ojuki, were unconvinced by the management’s commitment, stating that no concrete solutions were offered, and hence, the decision to proceed with the strike.
Call for Government Intervention
The situation has also drawn in the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), whose members have joined the strike at both the main campus and the College of Health Sciences. KUSU secretary Mary Chepkwemoi expressed frustration over the university’s inability to remit salary deductions for loan repayments and other financial obligations for the past seven years, leading to legal actions against staff members by financial institutions.
The unions have now turned to President William Ruto, calling for his intervention to resolve the crisis. They have also demanded the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Kosgey and the university council, accusing them of mismanagement and warning that the continued financial mismanagement could lead to the collapse of Moi University.
University Management’s Response
Despite the ongoing protests, Council Chairman Njoroge has downplayed the severity of the situation, claiming that most employees remain on duty and that the university’s financial challenges are not unique, as many other institutions in the country face similar issues. However, the striking workers remain firm in their demands, insisting that their livelihoods depend on the university’s ability to fulfill its financial obligations.
As the strike gains momentum, the future of Moi University hangs in the balance, with the academic community, students, and other stakeholders anxiously awaiting a resolution to the ongoing crisis. Whether the government will step in to mediate or if the university management can find a way to meet the unions’ demands remains to be seen. For now, the strike continues, with no end in sight until the staff’s grievances are fully addressed.
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