Moi University has been closed indefinitely due to a lecturers’ strike and subsequent student unrest.
The closure of the institution was announced by the Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey in a memo on October 3, 2024.
“The University Senate in a Special meeting held today Thursday 3rd October, 2024 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,” the VC announced.
All students have been instructed to vacate the university premises, including those residing in university halls.
“All students in all campuses should vacate the university premises with immediate effect,” Kosgey said, ordering students living in university residential halls to leave.
The situation at Moi University has been quite tense. On Thursday morning, anti-riot police officers used teargas to disperse students demonstrating in Eldoret town.
The students were protesting the halt in learning due to an ongoing lecturers’ strike. They are urging leaders to intervene so that lecturers can resume work and they can continue their studies.
The lecturers and other university staff have also been protesting over delayed salaries and the non-implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).
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Moi University has been experiencing several challenges since Isaac Kosgey became Vice Chancellor.
Some of the key issues include:
Financial Struggles:
Moi University has been facing financial challenges, particularly with remitting statutory deductions. This issue has led to financial institutions suing employees for unpaid loans. The university’s financial troubles have been attributed to a combination of factors, including a bloated workforce, corruption, and historical financial mismanagement.
Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey acknowledged these issues and mentioned that efforts are being made to address the accumulated statutory deductions and other financial obligations. However, the situation remains challenging, with ongoing strikes and demands from staff for the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the remittance of overdue deductions.
Strikes and Protests:
Moi University has faced significant disruptions due to ongoing strikes by both teaching and non-teaching staff. These strikes are primarily due to delayed salaries and unfulfilled Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) since Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey took over from Laban Ayiro.
The strikes have led to student unrest and significant disruptions in learning activities.
Management Criticism:
There have been significant concerns raised against Prof. Isaac Kosgey’s leadership at Moi University. Staff and local community members have accused him of mismanagement and incompetence. Some of the issues highlighted include financial mismanagement, such as the controversial KES 25 million gate project and irregular banking practices. The university spent approximately KSh 29.8 million on the project. This amount has raised concerns, especially given the university’s financial struggles.
The initial budget for the gate was KSh 4.8 million, but it had to be abandoned because the gate was on a road reserve. The new gate, which cost KSh 24 million, was completed in December 2023. This spending has been flagged by the auditor general, and Prof. Kosgey had to explain the expenses to the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education.
During his appearance before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education, Prof. Kosgey mentioned that the total expenditure on the gate project was about KSh 30 million. He justified the spending by stating that the initial gate had to be demolished and rebuilt due to its location on a road reserve.
Prof. Kosgey acknowledged the issues and explained that the university had to follow the advice of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) regarding the gate’s location.
Closure of the University
Moi University has faced several closures since Isaac Kosgey took over as Vice Chancellor. The most recent closure occurred on October 3, 2024, due to a lecturers’ strike and subsequent student unrest. The strike was primarily driven by issues such as delayed salaries and the implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), which led to significant disruptions in learning activities.
In previous years, the university has also experienced closures due to similar issues. For instance, in 2019, the university was closed indefinitely following violent protests organized by student leaders. Additionally, in 2021, there were negotiations between the university administration and workers’ unions to address grievances and agree on a return-to-work formula.
There have been protests and calls for his removal, with employees and locals expressing regret over the ousting of the former VC, Prof. Laban Ayiro, in favor of Prof. Kosgey
Recently, the university had to close temporarily due to the unrest caused by these strikes.
