Moi University Lecturers Vow to Extend Strike Until 7-Year Salary Arrears Are Paid
The harsh conditions have not deterred their resolve. Some of the lecturers resorted to picking wild fruits to quench their thirst under the scorching sun
By Jessica Nyaboke
Lecturers at Moi University, who have been on strike for nearly three weeks, have pledged not to return to work until they receive their long-overdue salaries from the government.
Led by Professor Opondo, the lecturers expressed deep concern about the future of Moi University, the country’s second-largest institution, warning that it is on the brink of collapse.
Speaking at the School of Health Sciences, the lecturers revealed that while their colleagues in other universities have been paid, they have gone unpaid for the last seven years. “It is disheartening that we continue to suffer while others are paid. We are being treated unfairly by a government that has completely ignored our demands,” said Prof. Opondo.
The lecturers were joined by casual workers, who also shared their plight, having not been paid for seven months. Many of them voiced their struggles in providing for their families. “We are unable to make ends meet. Our families are suffering,” one of the casual workers lamented.
The striking lecturers painted a bleak picture of the situation at the university, stating, “Everyone at Moi University is crying for help, but no one seems to hear us.”
The harsh conditions have not deterred their resolve. Some of the lecturers resorted to picking wild fruits to quench their thirst under the scorching sun, a symbol of their desperation.
Dr. Jane Maiko, a National Trustee at Moi University, decried the years of service many of them have given with little to show for it. “We feel wasted after all these years. We are nearing retirement with nothing in return. It’s unfortunate that the only language our employer understands is protest,” she remarked, highlighting the impact the strike has had on the students’ education.
Dr. Maiko further criticized the government for negotiating with the university’s Vice-Chancellor instead of directly engaging the lecturers. “We refuse to be the sacrificial lambs in this crisis. We demand to be heard,” she stated emphatically.
About Author
