Bii Appeals to Ruto to Rescue Moi University from Collapse as Sacked Workers, Students Suffer

By Mercy Jepchirchir

 Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has appealed to President William Ruto to urgently intervene and save Moi University from further financial and management challenges, warning that the institution's continued struggles threaten its future.

Speaking during the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Governor Bii called on the national government to provide a lasting solution to the crisis facing the public university, citing the plight of hundreds of former employees and students affected by the institution's difficulties.

Bii described Moi University as an important institution that had contributed significantly to the education of generations of Kenyans but was now struggling to sustain its operations.

“Moi University is like a mother who gave birth to many children and, in the process, exhausted its own resources in raising them,” Bii said.

The governor's appeal comes amid years of financial difficulties that have affected the university's operations, staff welfare and ability to meet its obligations.

The crisis intensified in May 2025 when the university issued notices to hundreds of employees as management sought to reduce operational costs amid mounting financial pressures. The affected workers have continued to seek assistance and redress over the circumstances surrounding their exit, with calls for government intervention to address their grievances.

Bii urged the national government to move beyond temporary interventions and establish a sustainable recovery plan that would restore the institution's financial stability, strengthen its management and protect its academic programmes.

He noted that the university's challenges require coordinated action to safeguard the interests of students, staff and other stakeholders who depend on the institution.

The national government had previously established a committee to assess the underlying problems facing Moi University and recommend possible solutions. However, concerns over the institution's financial position and management have continued to attract attention from leaders and other stakeholders.

The governor's latest appeal also renews pressure on President Ruto to fulfil an earlier commitment to support the university's recovery.

On January 10, 2025, during a development tour in Kapseret Constituency, the President pledged to strengthen the university's management and provide adequate resources to support its operations.

“We will put in place an efficient management team and allocate it enough resources so that Moi University can thrive like the other public universities,” Ruto said at the time.

Bii's remarks during the national celebrations have brought renewed focus to the future of the institution, which has played a significant role in higher education and professional training in Kenya.

Stakeholders are now looking to the national government for concrete measures to address the university's financial challenges, resolve outstanding staff grievances and ensure that students can pursue their studies in a stable academic environment.

A lasting solution, the governor's appeal suggests, will require more than emergency funding. It will also depend on effective management, sustainable financing and structural reforms capable of restoring confidence in one of Kenya's established public universities.