Moi University Fires 324 Staff.
The financially embattled Moi University has dismissed 324 contractual staff in a drastic cost-cutting measure. This decision follows a steep decline in student enrollment and comes just three months after a new management team was installed to rescue the institution.
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Planning, and Strategy, Prof. Khaemba Ongeti, issued a notice stating that contracts expiring on March 31, 2025, would not be renewed.
The institution cited a reduced workload resulting from the sharp drop in student numbers as the primary reason. Affected employees were instructed to complete clearance with relevant departments before their departure.
The terminated employees, primarily from security, cleaning, hostel, and library departments, will receive compensation. This includes six months’ pending salaries from January to June 2023, 15 days’ pay in lieu of notice, 15 days’ salary per year worked, and their March 2025 salary.
The university’s financial difficulties stem from an unsustainable wage bill consuming 70% of Exchequer capitation. Internal sources revealed that student enrollment plummeted from 50,000 in 2015 to 27,000 in 2021.
Additional setbacks include the closure of non-viable campuses, reduced government funding due to the Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model, and increasing personnel expenses linked to unfunded Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
Plans for Further Staffing Cuts
The university is considering further reductions through compulsory redundancies. Neighboring communities have called for fairness in the downsizing process, urging management to mitigate the psychological and socio-economic impact on affected workers.
Former civic leader Hillary Mutai emphasized the need for fair engagement to prevent undue hardship on departing employees.
Last year, members of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) staged a strike.
Their grievances included non-implementation of the 2017-2021 CBA and delayed remittances, among other issues.
In response to the financial turmoil, the Ministry of Education appointed a new management team in an effort to restore the university’s stability. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba selected Prof. Noah Midamba as the new council chairman.
Other council members include Prof. Ronald Wasike, Dr. Mercy Nyambura Kanyara, Dr. Edwin Sambili, and Anne Weceke Makori. Prof. Kiplagat Kotut, formerly of the University of Embu, was named interim Vice-Chancellor.
Presidential Assurance and Investigations
During a tour of Uasin Gishu County, President William Ruto pledged to form a committee to assess the university’s challenges and provide sustainable solutions.
He affirmed plans to restructure management and allocate sufficient resources to ensure the university’s survival.
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Meanwhile, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched investigations into financial mismanagement at the institution.
Allegations include failure to remit Sh4 billion in payroll deductions, defaulting on a Sh3 billion loan owed to Rivatex East Africa Limited, and accumulating Sh1.1 billion in unpaid bills by June 2020.
Moi University Fires 324 Staff.
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