Moi University has postponed its 49th graduation ceremony by one week as the nationwide university lecturers' strike continues to disrupt academic operations, leaving some prospective graduates struggling to resolve missing examination marks ahead of the ceremony.
The graduation, initially scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2026, will now take place on Thursday, December 10, 2026, according to a university notice published on October 28.
The notice was addressed to candidates eligible for the award of degrees and diplomas at the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.
The postponement comes amid uncertainty in public universities as lecturers and other university staff remain on strike over unresolved salary and collective bargaining disputes.
### Prospective graduates face pressure to clear academic records
As preparations for the ceremony continue, Moi University has urged prospective graduates to verify their academic records and ensure they meet all requirements before graduation.
Candidates have been advised to confirm their examination results with their respective deans, check the spelling and order of their names and clear any outstanding fees and other university charges.
The university has set Tuesday, November 10, 2026, as the deadline for submitting examination queries, name corrections and outstanding clearance issues to the respective deans of schools.
However, missing examination marks have emerged as a concern for some students who need their academic records finalised before they can graduate.
The ongoing strike has complicated efforts to resolve such cases, with affected students reporting difficulties accessing lecturers and obtaining assistance with examination-related queries.
For candidates awaiting graduation, delays in correcting marks or finalising academic records could create additional uncertainty as the revised ceremony date approaches.
Moi University lecturers raise separate grievances amid national strike
The industrial action began on October 2, 2026, amid disagreements over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The strike involves members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).
The unions are demanding progress on the collective bargaining agreement, improved salaries and working conditions, and reforms to university funding, including a proposal for staff salaries to be paid through the National Exchequer rather than relying on student fees.
UASU Secretary-General Dr Constantine Wasonga Opiyo has rejected proposals considered inadequate by the union, including a reported three per cent annual increase in basic salaries.
The dispute has raised concerns about the continuity of teaching, examinations, academic administration and other essential university services.
At Moi University, the national negotiations are compounded by local grievances that the university's UASU chapter says must be addressed independently.
Chapter Secretary Professor Robert Oduori has warned that members could remain on strike even if a national agreement is reached, unless outstanding institution-specific issues are resolved.
According to the chapter, approximately KSh1.2 billion owed to lecturers under previous collective bargaining agreements remains unpaid. The union has also cited more than KSh3 billion in outstanding pension-related obligations.
In August, the union opposed a proposal to declare 75 lecturers redundant, adding another point of contention to the dispute.
The unresolved matters highlight the financial and administrative challenges facing the university as it prepares for its next graduation ceremony.
The revised December 10 date gives Moi University and prospective graduates an additional week to prepare for the ceremony. However, the postponement does not by itself resolve the academic and administrative challenges associated with the ongoing strike.
Students with missing marks or incomplete records may still need assistance from academic departments before their graduation eligibility can be confirmed.
The situation also illustrates how prolonged industrial disputes in public universities can affect students beyond interrupted lectures, with administrative services and the completion of academic processes also coming under pressure.
Whether the revised graduation schedule proceeds as planned will depend partly on the university's preparations and its ability to finalise the records of eligible candidates.
For now, prospective graduates have been urged to verify their results, confirm their personal details and settle outstanding obligations before the November 10 deadline as they await the new graduation date.
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