Moi University closed after student unrest
Moi University has been closed indefinitely following lecturers’ strike and students’ unrest.
In a memo released on October 3, Vice Chancellor Issac Kosgei stated that the university senate held a meeting and resolved to suspend the teaching and learning activities of the 1st semester 2024/2025 academic year as a consequence of the industrial action of staff and subsequent student unease.
“All students in all campuses should vacate the university premises with immediate effect,” the memo read.
Students residing in the university halls of residence were also directed to leave immediately. International students were told to liase with the Dean of Students for further directions.
Moi University lecturers and workers downed their tools over delayed salaries. On Wednesday, they staged demonstrations in Eldoret City and demanded the payment of delayed salaries and implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).
The prolonged industrial action has crippled learning at the institution, forcing the students to join the strike and demand for the school administration to resolve the ongoing dispute between the administration and lecturers. Anti-riot police lobbed tear gas to disperse students in Eldoret who were protesting the disruption of their studies.
The staff workers have vowed to continue the strike, even after officials from the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) called off the strike. Nyabuta Ojuki, UASU branch deputy secretary, stated that the lecturers’ demands remained unmet, even after the unions agreed to end the strike after signing a return-to-work formula.
Ojuki blamed the collapse of the university pension scheme on the university management’s failure to remit over Ksh.5.5 billion deducted from lecturers’ salaries.
Furthermore, the university has failed to remit over Ksh.1.2 billion deducted from employees’ bank loans. UASU chapter secretary Wekesa Busolo stated that there was an urgent necessity for the appointing authority to take action regarding the university’s administration where all operations had been paralysed for over two months without any action.
He urged President William Ruto to intervene and help the university before it collapses.
The school re-opening dates will be communicated at a later date.
