Moi University Financial Crisis Deepens as Staff Protest Delayed Salaries and Leadership Gaps
UASU Moi University chapter secretary Robert Oduor. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Financial challenges at Moi University have intensified after workers, through their unions, protested delays in the payment of March salaries, blaming management for failing to honour commitments under a return-to-work agreement.
The unions—led by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU)—accused the institution’s acting leadership of failing to address longstanding grievances that previously triggered a 97-day strike in 2025.
UASU Moi University chapter secretary Robert Oduor said the administration has failed to implement key promises made during negotiations that ended last year’s industrial action.
“We have an administration that does not care about the welfare of its workers,” Oduor said. “We can barely meet our responsibilities in our homes because of delayed salaries, an issue they had pledged to resolve when we ended our strike in 2025.”
Union leaders also questioned delays in appointing a substantive vice chancellor, saying the continued leadership vacuum has worsened the institution’s financial management challenges.
Dr. Jeremiah Ojuki, UASU Moi University organizing secretary, faulted the Ministry of Education for what he termed as prolonged administrative uncertainty.
“As they delay our salaries, there are two sets of management both being paid salaries. Why has it taken so long to appoint a substantive office if the university is under financial strain?” Ojuki posed.
The dispute comes amid reports of a High Court order freezing more than 10 university bank accounts following a case filed by contractor Vishva Builders over a disputed contract dating back to 1990. The court reportedly ordered the institution to pay about KSh 1 billion, a figure that has grown significantly due to accumulated interest.
KUSU Moi University chapter secretary Mary Chepkwemoi urged urgent intervention, warning that staff should not bear the burden of long-standing institutional disputes.
“Will Moi University sacrifice its workers because of one contractor who transacted business with the institution decades ago?” she asked. “We are imploring President William Ruto to intervene in this matter for the sake of our families because all the doors we have knocked on have been fruitless.”
The unions have warned that they may resort to industrial action if the situation is not resolved, as pressure continues to mount on the university’s management and government stakeholders to address the deepening crisis.
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