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Moi University lecturers are demanding an immediate public apology from Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut over remarks in which he allegedly referred to lecturers as “parasites” during a recent appearance before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education.
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They have described the alleged comments as deeply offensive, arguing that they have further eroded staff morale at a university already struggling with financial instability, staff shortages and prolonged leadership uncertainty.
What began as a parliamentary inquiry into Moi University’s worsening financial troubles has escalated into a fresh confrontation between the institution’s management and its academic staff, exposing deeper concerns about leadership, governance and the future of one of Kenya’s oldest public universities.
The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has demanded an immediate public apology from Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut over remarks in which he allegedly referred to lecturers as “parasites” during a recent appearance before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education.
The union has described the alleged comments as deeply offensive, arguing that they have further eroded staff morale at a university already struggling with financial instability, staff shortages and prolonged leadership uncertainty.
Speaking during a press briefing in Eldoret, UASU officials maintained that lecturers are the intellectual engine of any university and should be respected as professionals entrusted with teaching, research, innovation and mentorship.
They said branding academic staff with derogatory labels not only undermines their dignity but also damages the institution’s image at a time when confidence in the university is already under intense scrutiny.
The latest fallout comes against the backdrop of an institution battling one of the most severe financial crises in its history.
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During its appearance before Parliament, the university’s management painted a bleak financial picture, revealing that Moi University has accumulated approximately Ksh9 billion in pending bills while seeking an additional Ksh1.9 billion in recurrent funding for the 2026/27 financial year.
The management attributed the crisis to years of chronic funding deficits dating back to 2014, saying the accumulated debt has crippled normal operations and severely limited the university’s ability to meet its financial obligations.
The parliamentary committee had summoned the university to provide an update on its financial position and explain progress made in implementing previous recommendations touching on governance reforms, procurement practices, accountability and institutional management.
However, the discussions quickly shifted from financial recovery to concerns over the deteriorating relationship between management and academic staff after the alleged remarks directed at lecturers emerged.
While acknowledging the university’s financial difficulties, UASU insists that Moi University’s problems cannot be blamed on lecturers.
Instead, the union argues that years of weak governance, poor administrative decisions and ineffective leadership have pushed the institution into its current predicament.
Union officials note that previous parliamentary reviews similarly identified governance challenges as a major contributor to the university’s decline, arguing that academic staff have continued to discharge their responsibilities despite increasingly difficult working conditions.
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According to the union, meaningful recovery can only be achieved through competent leadership, transparent financial management and genuine engagement with employees rather than assigning blame to those delivering academic programmes.
The union also raised alarm over what it describes as a severe shortage of lecturers across several schools and departments.
Some programmes, they say, are operating with dangerously inadequate staffing levels.
The Department of Mental Health reportedly has only one lecturer responsible for an entire programme, while the Department of Pathology is said to depend on just two lecturers to cover multiple areas of specialization.
These shortages have significantly increased workloads, forcing many lecturers to teach unusually large classes, supervise hundreds of students and handle multiple administrative responsibilities simultaneously.
In some instances, classes reportedly exceed 1,000 students, raising concerns about the quality of instruction, student assessment, academic supervision and research productivity.
Education experts have repeatedly warned that such staffing gaps ultimately compromise learning outcomes while placing enormous physical and psychological pressure on the few lecturers available.
Despite the financial challenges, UASU says lecturers have continued making extraordinary sacrifices to ensure learning does not grind to a halt.
The union claims that some members have personally purchased teaching materials and essential equipment using their own resources after the university failed to provide adequate support.
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Such sacrifices, they argue, demonstrate the commitment of academic staff to students and should be acknowledged rather than met with criticism or derogatory remarks.
Beyond staffing concerns, the union says employee welfare has deteriorated sharply.
According to UASU, lecturers are owed approximately Ksh1.25 billion in salary arrears, while unpaid pension contributions, delayed bank loan remittances and other statutory deductions exceed Kh5s00 million.
The union is now calling on the government to ensure that funds allocated to the university through the February 2026 supplementary budget are prioritized towards settling outstanding staff obligations.
Officials argue that restoring financial confidence among employees is essential for rebuilding morale and stabilizing academic programmes.
The controversy has also reignited debate over the prolonged use of acting appointments in senior management positions.
UASU believes the absence of substantive office holders has weakened institutional accountability, slowed decision-making and created uncertainty across the university.
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The union is urging Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to move with speed in appointing a substantive Vice-Chancellor and senior management team capable of steering the institution through its ongoing reforms.
According to the lecturers, stable leadership is indispensable if the university is to restore confidence among employees, students, development partners and the wider public.
Beyond the demand for a public apology, the lecturers say they are seeking a fundamental reset in how the university is managed.
They want stronger governance, transparent financial accountability, prompt settlement of outstanding staff dues, improved staffing levels and constructive engagement between management and employees.
They maintain that lasting peace cannot be achieved through accusations or hostility but through mutual respect, honest dialogue and collective commitment to rebuilding the institution.
By Hillary Muhalya
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