The University’s Academic Staff Union, (UASU) has agreed to resume fresh talks with the Moi University council to bring to an end the three weeks long lecturers’ strike which has affected the academic activities in the institution.
This comes after the UASU met in Eldoret to find the solution for the ongoing strike.
UASU had recently claimed that the university threatened staff with dismissal if they fail to return to work, but the union insists its members will not be intimidated into abandoning their cause.
Branch chairman Richard Okero, acting Secretary Dan Mukhwana and organizing Secretary Nyabuta Ojuki maintained that the strike would only end if the management honoured their demands.
He revealed that the union had formally written to the university about their grievances and a meeting had been scheduled.
Although students had already reported back, learning remained paralysed as lecturers continued their push for the implementation of 25 demands contained in their strike notice.
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Key among them is the payment of Ksh9 billion in salary arrears and statutory deductions, including Ksh5 billion owed to the pension scheme.
Students now are calling upon the Ministry of Education to intervene, saying the stalemate has left them stranded.
“As students we come here to learn and nothing else. Our lecturers have genuine demands which must be addressed. They cannot teach without being paid their dues,” student said.
Moi University branch secretary, Wegesa Busolo, said the union was demanding more than Ksh9 billion in arrears, warning that lecturers who retire may leave without pension benefits.
“The university has failed to remit pension contributions for over ten years and now many of our staff are retiring without any benefits,” he said.
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Busolo claimed the management ignored all 25 clauses in the agreement and worsened conditions at the institution.
“Since the new council came in, the first thing they did was declare 120 lecturers redundant.”
The dons downed their tools in protest over delayed June and July salaries, which they insist must be paid at the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement rates. They are also demanding full implementation of the Return-to-Work Formula signed with the university council on November 30, 2024.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut has indicated that the management is making renewed efforts to restart negotiations with UASU.
However, talks collapsed last week after the union rejected the university’s offer, describing it as inadequate.
Despite the stalemate, Kotut expressed hope that the impasse would soon be resolved.
By Juma Ndigo
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