The Parliamentary Committee on Education has expressed shock at the poor state of Moi University, with committee chairman Julius Melly calling for urgent management changes. On Friday, Melly stated that a caretaker council and management were needed to help rescue the institution, which has been crippled by a strike that has paralyzed operations for over three months.
Melly and other MPs witnessed the dilapidated state of the university’s facilities, which have been neglected for some time. “Moi University is in a sorry state, but as a committee, we will recommend measures to help operations resume as soon as possible,” Melly said.
His comments came after a lengthy crisis meeting held at the university amid an ongoing standoff between lecturers, staff, and the management. Melly revealed that the committee had instructed university management to reach an agreement with workers’ unions on a return-to-work formula by the end of Saturday and submit a report.
During the meeting, hundreds of workers demanded the removal of the current management, while Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey blamed the university’s financial troubles on large unpaid bills. “Once we are able to pay off some of the bills, we will start to operate normally,” he said.
Although Kosgey had announced the reopening of the university and the resumption of classes on Monday, all workers have vowed to remain on strike until they receive payment for their outstanding dues, which total over Sh10 billion. This includes Sh5 billion for the workers’ pension scheme and Sh1.2 billion in bank loans.
UASU branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta confirmed the workers’ position, stating, “We will not go back to class unless all our dues are paid. The management can reopen the university, but we will not participate.”
Meanwhile, some students have returned to campus, though uncertainty remains about the university’s operations.
