KESSES, Kenya – Moi University is set to reopen its doors on Monday after a three-month-long lecturers’ strike that paralyzed operations.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the reopening while signaling imminent changes to the university’s leadership and governance.
Ogamba, who visited the university on Saturday, said the Ministry of Education would make “hard decisions” in response to leadership challenges that contributed to the institution’s recent struggles.
“We are going to make a hard decision very soon when we return to Nairobi concerning the recent happenings that almost drove this university to the ground due to bad leadership and governance,” Ogamba stated.
The strike, which involved both teaching and non-teaching staff, ended after a return-to-work agreement was signed between the university and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).
Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey represented the university, while UASU National Secretary Constantine Wasonga signed on behalf of the lecturers.
As part of the agreement, the government has allocated Sh500 million to address staff financial obligations, including bank loans, pensions, and union dues.
The funds, to be disbursed by January 2025, will be divided as follows: bank loans: Sh100 million, union dues: Sh50 million, benevolent funds: Sh30 million, pension scheme, provident fund, and gratuity: Sh150 million, and welfare: Sh40 million.
The prolonged strike had placed this year’s graduation ceremony in doubt, but Ogamba confirmed it will now take place on December 19.
The strike disrupted Moi University’s academic calendar, particularly for first-year students who have been idle since reporting to campus in September.
The Ministry of Education will work with the university to restructure the calendar to recover lost time.
Ogamba was accompanied by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala and other senior officials during the visit.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the reopening while signaling imminent changes to the university’s leadership and governance.
Ogamba, who visited the university on Saturday, said the Ministry of Education would make “hard decisions” in response to leadership challenges that contributed to the institution’s recent struggles.
“We are going to make a hard decision very soon when we return to Nairobi concerning the recent happenings that almost drove this university to the ground due to bad leadership and governance,” Ogamba stated.
The strike, which involved both teaching and non-teaching staff, ended after a return-to-work agreement was signed between the university and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).
Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey represented the university, while UASU National Secretary Constantine Wasonga signed on behalf of the lecturers.
As part of the agreement, the government has allocated Sh500 million to address staff financial obligations, including bank loans, pensions, and union dues.
The funds, to be disbursed by January 2025, will be divided as follows: bank loans: Sh100 million, union dues: Sh50 million, benevolent funds: Sh30 million, pension scheme, provident fund, and gratuity: Sh150 million, and welfare: Sh40 million.
The prolonged strike had placed this year’s graduation ceremony in doubt, but Ogamba confirmed it will now take place on December 19.
The strike disrupted Moi University’s academic calendar, particularly for first-year students who have been idle since reporting to campus in September.
The Ministry of Education will work with the university to restructure the calendar to recover lost time.
Ogamba was accompanied by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala and other senior officials during the visit.
