Salary Crisis Boils Over at Moi University as Staff Threaten Fresh Strike

By Wasike Elvis 

Staff at Moi University have escalated their demands for urgent intervention over delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, and unfulfilled agreements, warning that the institution could soon be plunged back into industrial unrest if immediate action is not taken.

Speaking during a press briefing, officials from the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Moi University chapters, described a deepening crisis that has left lecturers and other university employees struggling to survive amid months of financial uncertainty.

According to Robert Oduor, the situation has reached a breaking point, with staff demanding the immediate release of March and April salaries, as well as the settlement of long-standing arrears linked to teaching practice supervision, examinations, and other academic responsibilities.

Oduor warned that continued delays are not only demoralizing staff but also threatening the normal functioning of the university.

Mounting Unpaid Claims and Frustration

Union officials revealed that lecturers who participated in teaching practice supervision in 2024 were only partially compensated, receiving approximately 60 percent of their entitled allowances. More than a year later, the remaining 40 percent has yet to be paid.

This, they said, has created a growing backlog of unpaid claims—even as another group of students prepares to begin attachment and teaching practice in the coming weeks.

“We cannot continue accumulating unpaid work,” said Dr Jeremiah Ojuki. “Members should not be expected to supervise students or carry out assessments on partial facilitation. These funds are budgeted for, and staff must be paid in full before undertaking such duties.”

Ojuki emphasized that the financial strain has made it increasingly difficult for lecturers to perform core academic functions, including traveling for supervision, marking examinations, and completing assessments.

“Are we expected to mark exams on empty stomachs? Are we supposed to take loans just to go and assess students?” he posed, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

Return-to-Work Deal in Limbo

At the heart of the dispute lies a return-to-work agreement signed in November 2024, which brought to an end a nearly 100-day strike that had paralyzed operations at the university.

However, union leaders now say the agreement has largely remained on paper, with little to no implementation of its key provisions.

“Not even a single component of the financial commitments has been implemented,” said Mary Chepkwemoi. “Even non-monetary aspects, such as governance reforms that require no funding, have not been honored.”

The unions also disclosed that the government had committed to releasing funds through supplementary budgets to clear salary arrears dating back to between 2017 and 2021. Yet, according to officials, those funds have either not been disbursed or have failed to reach the intended beneficiaries.

Deeper Financial and Structural Concerns

Beyond the immediate salary delays, staff highlighted longstanding financial challenges at the university, including unremitted statutory deductions and pension contributions spanning more than seven years.

This has raised alarm among employees about their future, particularly retirement security.

“Imagine working for 40 or 50 years and going home with nothing,” one union official lamented. “How do you survive? How do you support your family after retirement?”

Union representatives also questioned what they described as questionable financial decisions within the institution, including the maintenance of multiple layers of leadership despite the ongoing financial crisis.

“If the university is in distress, why sustain parallel management structures?” one official asked. “Does that reflect prudent use of resources?”

Calls for Urgent Government Intervention

The unions have now turned their focus to the national government, calling on the Ministry of Education to step in and resolve what they describe as a systemic breakdown in the management of university finances.

They urged authorities to ensure that funds allocated to the institution are properly managed and disbursed, while also calling for greater accountability within the university council and administration.

“We have the expertise within this university to generate solutions,” the union stated. “But there must be willingness from management to engage staff in a meaningful and progressive manner.”

Uncertainty Clouds University Operations

The salary delays have been further complicated by reports circulating publicly about the university’s financial position, including claims that some accounts may have been frozen due to historical debts. However, union officials declined to comment on the reports, citing a lack of official communication.

“What matters to us is simple—staff must be paid,” the officials maintained.

Strike Threat Looms Large

While the unions stopped short of announcing an immediate strike, they made it clear that patience among members is rapidly running out. They noted that the previous strike was only suspended—not formally concluded—leaving the door open for its resumption at any time.

“We gave management and the government time to act. That time has passed,” one official warned. “If nothing is done, we will have no choice but to revisit our earlier position.”

Any renewed industrial action could significantly disrupt academic programs, particularly as the semester approaches its end and students prepare for examinations, attachments, and teaching practice placements.

Human Cost of the Crisis

Beyond institutional challenges, union leaders painted a stark picture of the human toll of delayed salaries. Staff, they said, are struggling to pay rent, feed their families, and meet basic needs, with many forced into debt just to continue working.

“This is not just about salaries—it is about dignity,” Chepkwemoi emphasized. “Our members have families, children, and responsibilities. They deserve to live decent lives.”

A Call for Lasting Solutions

As tensions continue to rise, KUSU and UASU are calling for comprehensive and lasting reforms to address the underlying challenges facing Moi University.

They warned that failure to act swiftly could deepen the crisis, destabilize the institution further, and negatively impact thousands of students.

“We want peace and stability in this university,” the union concluded. “But peace cannot exist where workers are not paid. The solution lies in honoring commitments, restoring trust, and ensuring that staff receive what they are rightfully owed.”

For now, attention remains firmly fixed on the government and university management, as staff anxiously await action—amid growing uncertainty over the future of one of Kenya’s key public universities.