Teaching and non-teaching staff at Moi University, which is facing financial difficulties, have petitioned President William Ruto to replace the university’s top management due to poor leadership. The staff urged the Head of State to act swiftly to prevent the public institution from imminent collapse resulting from significant mismanagement of resources by the university administration.
Representatives from the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) appealed to the president to act in the best interests of the university community and the nation as a whole.
During a meeting in Eldoret town, union officials criticized the university management, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey, for declining their request for a meeting to address pressing issues at the institution.
“The entire teaching and non-teaching staff are suffering and demoralized. Our salaries are not paid monthly as they should be. There are no ongoing projects at this university. Please come back home and save Moi University,” said Lazarus Kibet, a representative of the striking workers.
Kibet highlighted that more than 700 casual workers on contracts have not been paid for eight months while still being required to report to work from Monday to Friday.
“Those of us on contracts are the worst hit. We cannot afford to pay rent or provide basic needs for our families,” he lamented.
Dr. Richard Okero, chairman of the UASU chapter, revealed that lecturers have not been paid for the past month, a situation he claimed has led many colleagues to skip work.
“We have not received our July salaries, and we have been informed that our salaries will be cut by half. How can we sustain ourselves given the current economic situation?” Okero questioned.
He also expressed hope that the new university funding model would help resolve the ongoing salary delays that have plagued the institution.
