Moi University Lecturers Strike Paralyzes Learning, Demands Unmet

Eldoret, Kenya – August 21, 2025
By Street News Team

Learning at Moi University has ground to a halt as over 900 lecturers, under the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), embarked on a strike on August 20, 2025, citing the institution’s failure to honor a return-to-work agreement signed in November 2024. The industrial action, which comes just days before first-year students are set to report, has plunged the financially troubled university into yet another crisis, raising concerns among students and parents about the future of academic programs.

Why Are Lecturers Striking?

The strike, announced after a seven-day notice issued on August 12, stems from multiple grievances. UASU Moi University Chapter Secretary Dr. Busolo Wekesa highlighted the university’s failure to implement the 25-clause return-to-work formula agreed upon last year, which was meant to resolve a previous three-month strike. Key demands include:

• Payment of Salaries: Lecturers have not received their June and July 2025 salaries at the rates stipulated in the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula: The agreement, signed on November 30, 2024, promised Sh2.6 billion in cash and assets, including an immediate Sh500 million, but lecturers claim none of the clauses have been honored.
• Statutory Deductions: The university has failed to remit Sh4.6 billion in pension scheme deductions and contributions to the Social Health Authority (SHA), leaving lecturers without access to healthcare services.
• Compliance with CBA Clauses: The union demands full adherence to clauses on staff review, promotions, and retirement age as outlined in the 2021–2025 CBA.

“It is unfortunate that the university management has not implemented any of the 25 clauses of the CBA despite the government releasing Sh500 million as part of the deal,” Dr. Wekesa told the media in Eldoret. He emphasized that the lecturers are not seeking salary increments but simply the fulfillment of existing agreements.

Financial Woes at Moi University

Moi University, once a leading institution in Kenya, is grappling with a severe financial crisis. The university has admitted to struggling with a ballooning wage bill, exacerbated by a drop in student numbers from 48,000 in 2015 to 21,000 currently. This has made it difficult to meet financial obligations, including salary payments. In early 2025, the university issued redundancy notices to about 900 employees, including 120 lecturers, as a cost-cutting measure, though court orders halted the layoffs pending legal proceedings.

The return-to-work formula included plans for the government to release Sh7.7 billion to implement the 2021–2027 CBA in phases, alongside asset transfers worth Sh2.1 billion to the union’s pension scheme. However, UASU claims the Sh500 million released by the National Treasury has not reached workers, and other financial commitments remain unfulfilled.

Impact on Students and Academic Programs

The timing of the strike is particularly disruptive, as first-year students are scheduled to report on August 21, 2025. Despite the strike notice, Moi University’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kiplagat Kotut, assured students and parents that teaching, examinations, and research would continue as planned. However, with lecturers vowing not to return until their demands are met, learning remains paralyzed across all campuses.

Students are growing increasingly frustrated. Previous strikes, including a three-month closure in 2024, have led to significant delays in academic programs, with some medical students reportedly spending over nine years without graduating. The recent hike in hostel fees—ranging from Ksh5,000 to Ksh13,000 per year—has added to students’ financial burdens amidst the uncertainty.

University’s Response and Ongoing Tensions

The university management has acknowledged the financial challenges but insists it is engaging with UASU, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders to resolve the issues. Prof. Kotut stated that the council is exploring solutions, including restructuring to make the university self-sustaining. However, UASU has accused the administration of ignoring their concerns and failing to cooperate in conciliation talks mediated by the Ministry of Labour earlier this year.

The strike has also taken a legal turn. In November 2024, a court order restrained UASU and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) from continuing an “unprotected” strike, but the current action appears to be a fresh escalation. Lecturers have warned that they will not resume work until their demands are fully addressed, with some calling for the resignation of the university council and Vice-Chancellor for alleged mismanagement.

What’s Next?

As the strike continues, the future of Moi University hangs in the balance. The Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba, has previously confirmed the university’s Sh8 billion debt, and President William Ruto has attributed its woes to internal governance issues. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is also investigating alleged misappropriation of Sh2.2 billion, adding to the institution’s challenges.

For students, the ongoing disruptions threaten their academic progress, while lecturers remain steadfast in their demands for fair treatment. The university community is calling for urgent intervention to restore normalcy and prevent further damage to one of Kenya’s oldest public institutions.

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