Hope for students and workers of troubled Moi University as new council takes charge
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed on Wednesday that medical students will graduate in March this year.
The long-troubled Moi University will now see significant changes, including the graduation of medical students who have been at the institution for over nine years, following management changes effected recently.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed on Wednesday that the students will graduate in March this year.
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Speaking during the swearing-in of a new university council, Ogamba highlighted the need for transformative leadership at the university which has been marred by financial and managerial challenges.
The university has faced numerous crises, including strikes by workers over unpaid salaries and unremitted statutory deductions amounting to Sh8.6 billion.
“Leadership and governance issues necessitated the appointment of a new council to steer this university. It is now the responsibility of the new team to implement sustainable strategies to restore Moi University to its former glory,” Ogamba said.
The government replaced the former council chair Humphrey Kimani Njuguna with Noah Midamba.
Other new council members are Ronald Wasike, Mercy Nyambura Kanyara, Edwin Sambili, and Anne Weceke Makori.
This reshuffle comes two weeks after President William Ruto pledged to constitute a committee to address the university’s issues comprehensively.
Ogamba said the new council is expected to implement the return-to-work formula agreed upon in December 2024 to avert further disruptions.
“The university has faced multiple strikes, but we reached an agreement with workers to ensure graduation takes place. The council must now ensure the stability of operations,” he added.
Next in line
The CS said the Technical University of Kenya is next in line for restructuring as part of the government’s plan to resolve managerial crises in public universities.
“We will not tolerate laxity in university administration. Institutions must carve out a unique niche for themselves to thrive,” Ogamba said.
Workers’ unions, including the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU), have expressed concerns about management decisions.
UASU Moi Chapter Secretary-General Busolo Wegesa cautioned against plans to lay off workers, citing understaffing.
Meanwhile, KUSU Secretary Mary Chepkwemoi urged the new Moi University council to ensure timely salary payments.
“We hope the new council has already addressed salary arrears for December because workers are anxious. Delayed payments create unnecessary tensions,” Chepkwemoi said.
The university recently disbursed Sh113 million in salary arrears for October, November, and December to avert a strike. It has also fully paid December salaries, following warnings from unions about the management’s failure to honour agreements.
“We have received the arrears, and this is a relief for our members. However, we now demand the implementation of enhanced salary rates under the 2021-2025 agreement,” UASU Chapter Secretary Nyabuta Ojuki said.
Midamb, the new council chair, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to reform the university.
“I have what it takes to redeem Moi University. Together, we will implement effective solutions and move the institution forward,” he said.
During a recent tour of Uasin Gishu County, President Ruto promised to overhaul Moi University’s management and allocate resources to stabilise the institution.
“We will ensure Moi University thrives like other public universities by installing efficient leadership and providing sufficient funding,” he said.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are probing financial and managerial irregularities at the university, which remains under scrutiny.
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