Lecturers at Moi University have rejected an offer from the university’s council, insisting that the proposal falls short of addressing their concerns. The dons, who downed their tools on August 20, have vowed to continue with the industrial action until their demands are fully met.
Speaking to the press in Eldoret on Monday, Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) Eldoret branch secretary-general, Dr. Busolo Wekesa, confirmed that negotiations have been ongoing since last week but said members found the offer unsatisfactory.
“We have received the offers and are deliberating with the employer, but so far the staff have said that it is too little and they will not accept it unless they are offered something better,” said Dr. Wekesa.
The lecturers are demanding that their June and July 2025 salaries be paid in line with the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). They also want the university to implement provisions on staff review, promotions, and retirement age, as outlined in the negotiated 2021-2025 National CBA.
UASU Moi University branch chairman, Richard Kero, lamented that members continue to suffer financial strain, with many being listed by the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) due to unpaid loans. He noted that some staff are retiring without pensions, despite their years of service.
“Some of our members are suffering due to the burden of loans that have seen them placed on CRB listing, as many go home without a pension. We have sacrificed time to recover the syllabus after past strikes, yet the university has failed us,” Mr. Kero said.
The strike has once again drawn attention to Moi University’s longstanding management challenges. The 41-year-old institution has been plagued by financial crises and repeated strikes in recent years. In January, the government dissolved the old university council and appointed a new one in efforts to restore stability.
However, the latest standoff suggests that the reforms are yet to bear fruit. Until a return-to-work formula signed with the university council on November 30, 2024, is implemented, the lecturers say they will not return to class, leaving thousands of students in academic limbo.
