Uproar as Moi University Faces Backlash Over Mass Layoffs
The unions have vowed to take legal action and are appealing to the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Committee on Education to intervene.
UASU Secretary General Constantine Wesonga /File Photo
By Linda Muhanji
Moi University is under intense scrutiny following its decision to terminate the contracts of over 800 staff members, a move that has sparked outrage among employee unions and raised questions about governance and accountability in Kenya’s public universities.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has condemned the layoffs, calling them abrupt, opaque, and in violation of labor laws. The union accuses the university’s leadership of sidelining key stakeholders in a process that could have long-lasting repercussions for the institution and its community.
“We, as unions, are key stakeholders in this institution. Any decision of this magnitude must involve our active participation,” said UASU Secretary General Dr. Constantine Wesonga during a press briefing. “To this day, we don’t know how the list of those affected was compiled. Some of the names belong to individuals who are either deceased or have already retired.”
Dr. Wesonga further criticized the university’s justification for the layoffs, which cited an inflated payroll. “You cannot punish current workers for a payroll that is inflated because of poor data management,” he said. “This is not just a procedural misstep; it’s a betrayal.”
The university has yet to release an official statement explaining the criteria used to identify the staff for redundancy. Meanwhile, the affected employees, many of whom served for decades, are left in limbo—some without severance pay or a clear path forward.
The move comes at a time when public universities across Kenya are grappling with financial instability. According to a 2024 report by The Standard, Moi University was among several institutions flagged by the Auditor General for poor fiscal management and unsustainable wage bills. The report cited bloated staffing levels and stagnant revenue streams as key factors contributing to the crisis.
Despite this, union leaders question the timing and motive behind the layoffs. “The Competency-Based Curriculum is expected to increase university enrolment in coming years,” said Dr. Wesonga. “Why would the university downsize when it should be preparing to accommodate more students? Is this really about finances—or something else, like paving the way for nepotistic hiring?”
The Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) have joined UASU in calling for the immediate suspension of the layoffs. They are demanding a full audit of the university’s human resource and payroll systems, as well as the resignation of top management officials accused of mismanagement.
“We are not just talking about numbers. These are people with families, people who built this institution from the ground up,” said KUSU Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya. “This is more than a labor issue—it’s a moral one.”
The unions have vowed to take legal action and are appealing to the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Committee on Education to intervene. “We will not rest until justice is done,” said Dr. Wesonga. “This university must be held accountable—for its finances, for its leadership, and most importantly, for the lives it has upended.”
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