Moi University Reopening: Talks Stalled Amid Financial Crisis.
Attempts to resolve the impasse at Moi University through late-night discussions on Wednesday between government officials and staff representatives ended without a resolution.
Despite these protracted talks, the issue of reopening the university remained unresolved by Thursday, leading to mixed statements from involved parties.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged the drawn-out talks, expressing that reopening the university remained a priority. He made this statement while attending a conference in Mombasa.
However, Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey, in a later press briefing in Nairobi, confirmed plans to reopen the university on Friday, November 12, 2024. He shared that a settlement matrix had been provided to the union for addressing outstanding arrears.
In Eldoret, however, union leaders dismissed this proposal, stating to Nation that their members would continue with the boycott until a satisfactory agreement was reached.
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A team from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection also failed to broker a solution between the university’s management and striking staff.
Pressure to Reopen Amid Union Opposition
Despite union resistance, Moi University’s administration faced pressure to reopen on Friday. Education CS Ogamba expressed the urgency to have staff back in classrooms, stating that continuous efforts were being made to bring stability to the education sector by ending street protests among educators. He emphasized that students needed to return to class promptly to restore order.
Union representatives from the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) criticized the university’s failure to present viable proposals.
They argued that the management did not provide realistic solutions for clearing the billions owed in arrears.
The impasse led to the formation of an inter-ministerial committee, which includes the National Treasury, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. According to Joseph Motari, the principal secretary at the Ministry of Labour, this committee is tasked with examining the dispute.
Uasu’s chapter secretary, Nyabuta Ojuki, indicated that the union remained unconvinced by the university’s phased proposal for arrear payments and would maintain the industrial action until clear resolutions were established.
“We have not entered into any meaningful arrangement with the university management over plans to resume the learning process after it failed to table a clear framework on how to address monetary and welfare issues troubling our members,” explained Mr Ojuki.
Union Demands and Financial Disputes
The union claims staff are owed over Sh10 billion in unpaid salaries and statutory deductions, rejecting the proposed phased repayment plan. Mr. Ojuki highlighted that the university had not offered a structured framework for addressing salary arrears and welfare issues, creating ongoing tension with staff.
Additional grievances include the university’s non-compliance with the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and a demand for improved working conditions.
The union noted that some members face court action for defaulting on bank loans due to the university’s failure to remit deductions, intensifying the union’s demands for accountability from the management.
Moi University’s financial challenges are substantial, with outstanding debts reportedly totaling Sh8 billion. Mr. Ogamba previously confirmed these issues, noting the university’s critical financial position.
The National Treasury allocated Sh609 million last month to assist with immediate needs, committing to release an additional Sh500 million this month.
Call for Forensic Audit and Halting New Projects
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education has requested Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu to perform a forensic audit on Moi University’s finances.
The committee, led by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, recommended suspending all university projects and halting new hires until the audit’s conclusion.
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Under investigation are alleged financial irregularities, including Sh4 billion in unremitted payroll deductions, default on a Sh3 billion debt to Rivatex East Africa Limited, and unpaid bills totaling Sh1.1 billion as of June 2020. These unresolved issues continue to complicate efforts to restore operational stability at Moi University.
Moi University Reopening: Talks Stalled Amid Financial Crisis
