Moi University to sell German Shepherd dogs at Sh40,000, donkeys, bulls in fresh bid to ease cash crisis
The dogs, namely Tommy (female), Jimmy, Bella, and Bingo (all male), have been listed among the surplus items to be auctioned.
In a bid to ease its cash flow challenges, financially crippled Moi University has announced a public auction including cows, donkeys, motor vehicles, and even German Shepherd dogs, with the sale set for June 24 at its Kesses main campus.
The public has been invited to view the items on Friday, June 20 and Monday, June 23, ahead of the sale, which will be conducted on a cash-only basis.
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In a notice dated June 16, 2025, the university stated that the auction will take place from 9:30 am at the transport department yard and the farm yard within the main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County.
“Moi University shall be selling the following items, by Public Auction on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Main Campus Transport Department yard and Farm yard starting at 9:30 am,” reads the notice.
A wide variety of surplus items will be auctioned to the highest bidders, including motor vehicles, livestock, dogs, used tyres, pigs, and assorted equipment.
Among the high-value items is a Toyota Hilux pickup with a reserve price of Sh350,000. The university is also set to dispose of four German Shepherd dogs at a starting price of Sh40,000 each.
The dogs, namely Tommy (female), Jimmy, Bella, and Bingo (all male), have been listed among the surplus items to be auctioned.
Other animals to be auctioned include well-bred bulls and bull calves, priced between Sh50,000 and Sh70,000, donkeys ranging from Sh9,000 to Sh15,000, and pigs retailing at between Sh3,500 and Sh7,000. Used tyres will also be sold in one lot at a reserve price of Sh12,000.
Moi University Vice Chancellor, Prof Kiplagat Kotut, confirmed the disposal exercise, noting that registration for interested bidders will be conducted between 9am and 11am on the auction day.
To participate, bidders must pay a refundable deposit of Sh20,000 for motor vehicles or Sh2,000 for other items to obtain a bid number.
“All items will be sold on an ‘as-is-where-is’ basis and on a cash basis at the fall of the hammer,” reads the notice.
The highest bidder will be declared the purchaser and must settle the amount immediately.
“Failure to do so will lead to forfeiture of the deposit,” Prof Kotut warned.
The university further stressed that canvassing is strictly prohibited and that the sale will only proceed if the reserve prices are met.
The auction announcement comes as Moi University fired 376 staff in a cost-cutting drive aimed at addressing a worsening financial crisis. The institution is grappling with a debt of Sh8.8 billion and says it expects to save about Sh120 million per month from the retrenchment.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kiplagat and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Loice Maru told legislators the layoff decision followed a 2022 financial review by PKF Consulting, which warned that the university’s operations were unsustainable without sweeping reforms.
“This was a last resort. We followed the provisions of the Employment Act and held consultations with the unions from as early as 2022,” Prof. Kiplagat said, adding that earlier measures, including natural attrition and voluntary retirement, had failed to yield the needed savings.
The parliamentary committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, questioned the legality, fairness, and timing of the exercise.
“The Committee is deeply concerned about the livelihoods of the affected staff. We want assurance that the legal procedures were followed and that the university is not using redundancy as a shortcut to evade its financial obligations,” said Melly.
The university said redundancy notices were issued on May 13, 2025, and severance and notice pay totalling Sh167.4 million will be disbursed to the affected staff.
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