This archive report was first published on 28 October 2021.
On October 27, 2021, teaching and non-teaching staff of Moi University stormed the main administration block in Eldoret, marking the third day of their strike. The staff were protesting delayed salaries and the institution's failure to implement the 2017-2021 Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA).
The Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), and Kenya Union Of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals & Allied Workers (Kudheiha) claimed that the management had ignored their grievances. The staff attempted to meet with Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgei, but were repulsed by police.
Uasu Chairperson Richard Okero attributed the institution's challenges to poor management and misappropriation of funds. He stated, “We will only respond to the meeting calls if all the employees are invited.”
Uasu Organising Secretary Nyabuta Ojuki claimed that their grievances were simple issues that the management had ignored. He stated, “Our employer has oppressed us instead of giving us a conducive working environment. We demand full implementation of the CBA that majority of other universities have already implemented.”
The lecturers claimed that the university owed supervisors and external examiners, paralysing post-graduate programmes. They also claimed that the university lacked basic resources like felt pens and printing papers. Casual workers, who had not received their pay for more than 13 months, claimed that they had been working for the institution for years without being employed on a permanent and pensionable basis.
However, Prof Kosgei denied the allegations, stating, “Everything’s in public domain and we are progressing well. We found the institution with challenges; I have tried to do a lot. We will have a meeting with the unions tomorrow.”
