Moi University has finally paid out Sh 500 million delayed salaries that caused dons and other workers to stage a fresh strike.
Following the payments, unions Uasu and Kusu called off the strike and asked all their members to resume work.
Union officials Ojuki Nyabuta for Uasu and Mary Chepkwemoi for Kusu confirmed they had resumed work after the management paid out the money.
“We are back to work as we discus full implementation of what is in our return to work formula signed last year,” Ojuki said.
The university had on Monday pledged to release the money in a bid to end the fresh strike, which had again paralysed operations at the troubled institution.
The money paid out includes Sh400 million for December salaries and another Sh103 million for arrears that had not been cleared since October last year.
Vice chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey met the officials and assured them of his commitment to end frequent salary delays.
The union officials said they also want the management to address all issues as agreed in the national return to work formula signed late last year.
The workers have formed a joint committee with the management to follow up and ensure the details in the return to work deal are fully implemented.
“Even though they have paid us, we are not certain about the future and we urge our management to ensure they resolve issues affecting operations of the university,” Ojuki said.
Moi University Uasu chapter secretary Busolo Wegesa regretted that the challenges at the university were caused by bad management decisions like investing in grandiose projects.
The unions had last week called on the workers to resume the strike which had been suspended last year after a return to work deal was signed in Nairobi.
“All other universities have implemented the details of the return to work deal signed last year but we wonder what is special with Moi University management,” Busolo said.
The Uasu and Kusu officials noted that the frequent strikes at Moi University were ruining the lives of over 30,000 who miss lessons even after paying fees.
Last week President William Ruto, who was in Uasin Gishu for a development tour, pledged to streamline operations at the university.
Ruto said he had formed a committee to look into problems at the university with a view to solving the situation.
“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,” he said.
He made the remarks at Ngeria Technical Training Institute in Kapseret constituency when opened the college on Friday.
