Moi University lecturers continue their strike over unpaid Sh8.6 Billion allowances and salaries as Return-to-Work agreement remains unfulfilled
Dr. Okero counted a number of grievances favored by lecturers, including the lack of medical scheme for three months, blacklisting of staff by (CRB)
The union condemned what it referred to as threats by the management to attempt to drive lecturers back to work. Dr. Mukhwana, the Acting Chapter Secretary, stated, “The issue of threats here and there should stop. We are dealing with an elite group.
By Mercy Chelangat
Moi University lecturers have continued to hold their ground, demanding full realization of a November 2024 return-to-work deal worth Sh8.6 billion. The strike started on August 20th 2025 by over 900 members of staff who claim that the Moi University Council had breached the agreement which had promised unpaid salaries, allowances, and pensions. The union alleges outstanding issues such as unremitted loans, overdue insurance schemes, CRB blacklisting, and unremitted pensions as the major drivers for the ongoing industrial action.
At a press conference on 1st September 2025, UASU Moi University Chapter Chair Dr. Richard Okero explained why the strike persists. “The strike that was called on the 20th last month is still on,” he said. “The return-to-work formula that ended the last strike in November 2024 has been discarded by the Moi University Council. That is why we are where we were last year.”
Unremunerated Benefits and Staff Financial Burden
Dr. Okero counted a number of grievances favored by lecturers, including the lack of medical scheme for three months, blacklisting of staff by the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) because of unpaid loan deductions, and pension contributions unpaid for over seven years. He further indicated unpaid group life insurance contributions that left over 80 deceased staff members’ families without compensation.
“Moi has not remitted the premiums since 2017,” Dr. Okero said. “Over 80 colleagues who have died while working here have left behind families still in pain. They have not been compensated.”
The other grievances include commuter allowances that are still anchored on old 2012-2013 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) rates, which do not capture the expensive cost of transport presently. Workers also find it difficult to get loans because of failure to remit deducted money, hence becoming blacklisted.
Union Rejects Threats and Calls for Government Intervention
The union condemned what it referred to as threats by the management to attempt to drive lecturers back to work. Dr. Mukhwana, the Acting Chapter Secretary, stated, “The issue of threats here and there should stop. We are dealing with an elite group. We have done it for 98 days before. We can do it again.”
The union has sent a letter to the Ministry of Education, calling for an urgent intervention. Branch Organizing Secretary Dr. Jeremiah Ojuki Nyabuta clarified, “We wrote them a letter last week and proposed a date for the meeting tomorrow. Before that happens, we cannot talk about any other strategy. But we are not bulging. We are on this until our demands are addressed.”
Terms of the Return-to-Work Agreement
The return-to-work equation signed in November 2024 was meant to resolve historical financial issues at the university. It catered to the following disbursements:
• Sh500 million for union contributions, bank loans, insurance, and pensions (already disbursed by Treasury but not reaching staff)
• Sh1.25 billion for arrears in salaries between 2017 and 2021
• Sh3 billion for pension arrears to be paid in the 2026/27 financial year
• Sh1.75 billion for other salary arrears scheduled to be paid in the 2027/28 financial year
The money was in the budget of the Ministry of Education and not within Moi University student fees and enrollments.
“We are not making any new demands,” Dr. Ojuki said. “We are simply saying, pay us what we have worked for. These are not debts to government agencies. This is staff money.”
Students Wait for Answer as Strike Brings Classes to a Standstill
Although the students have returned to school, classes are yet to resume because lecturers persist with the strike. Dr. Okero urged the council and the university management to act fast.
We are very ready to work,” he said. “We ask the university management and council to move fast, honour the deal, and allow us to return to class.”
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