Moi University dons stage demos over delayed salaries

Over 900 Moi University lecturers have staged demos in Eldoret demanding implementation of their 2017-2021 CBA agreement and two-month delayed salaries.

The academic staff were led by UASU chapter officials including chapter chairman Richard Okero and chapter secretary Ojuki Nyabuta.

Okero stated that there was a financial crisis that has led to a delay in the payment of lecturers' salaries for July and August.

The lecturers also raised concerns that over Sh4.1 billion deducted for their pension scheme had not been remitted.

"Statutory deductions that have been remitted over the years haven't been remitted," Okero claimed

He said they would remain on strike until all issues affecting the university were resolved.

“We have a big mess and we are now asking President Ruto to intervene and save it from collapse”, said Okero.

Okero said the strike would go on at all Moi University campuses.

Uasu branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta on Monday said the move follows a consultative meeting attended by national officials which upheld the sanctity of the strike notice issued on Monday, August 19.

Ojuki said that the strike would continue until all the demands in the notice were met.

He further noted that the strike shall only be called off after negotiating and signing the Return to Work Formula (RTWF).

“As an academic member of staff whose salary not only gets paid perennially late but has lately not been paid for two months now, we say no such continued mistreatment of our members,” Ojuki said.

Last week the Moi University Council and management met with lecturers' union in a bid to resolve the salary crisis that had led to a go-slow by more than 3,000 employees.

Council chairman Dr Humphrey Njoroge said they had requested the meeting with UASU to explain and consult over issues including salary delays and failure to implement the 2017-2022 CBA.

“We called the meeting to consult with the union and we have agreed on the way forward on resolving the issues they have,” Njoroge said.

He had told the Star on phone that they would implement all that was agreed on by the UASU Moi University chapter officials.

However, UASU officials led by Oyuki said nothing had been achieved hence the decision to call order the strike..

“We will remain on strike unless we get our salaries paid in full diagonally as per the 2017 CBA we will not be back,” Oyuki said.

He confirmed that they met with the university council and management led by VC Professor Isaac Kosgey but there was no commitment by the management as to when the disputed issues would be implemented.