Moi University Crisis Deepens as Staff Reject UASU-Government Deal, Strike Enters Third Month.
Learning at Moi University has remained at a standstill as lecturers and workers vowed to continue their strike.
This comes despite the government reaching a return-to-work formula with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) for the national strike.
Staff Stand Firm on Local Demands
University staff stated that their strike would persist as the institution has yet to address their specific grievances.
The Secretary-General of UASU’s Moi University chapter, Busolo Wekesa, clarified that the national strike agreement did not resolve their local concerns.
He explained that the industrial action, which began on August 26, would continue until their demands were met.
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Busolo emphasized that there were two distinct strikes—one on a national scale and another specific to Moi University staff.
Among the unresolved issues are pension funds, unpaid bank loans, and arrears on their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
The lecturers revealed that for the past seven years, they have unsuccessfully engaged the university’s management in attempts to resolve these matters.
They added that their willingness to negotiate had previously been met with resistance, citing ongoing management controversies at the university as a barrier to progress.
Broader Implications of the Crisis
The strike has now entered its third month, even as President William Ruto and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured the public that a resolution would be found.
In his recent State of the Nation address, Ruto attributed the crisis to internal governance issues at Moi University. He stated that directives had been issued to address the situation.
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Moi University was indefinitely closed on October 3, 2024, due to student unrest triggered by the strike.
Thousands of students face uncertainty regarding their studies and the upcoming graduation ceremony, as the standoff continues to disrupt operations.
Moi University Crisis Deepens as Staff Reject UASU-Government Deal, Strike Enters Third Month
