The new acting Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut /MATHEWS NDANYI
The new acting Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut has promised to work hard with other stakeholders and restore its lost glory.
Kotut was unveiled at the university by the council led by Chairman Professor Noah Midamba.
Kotut and Midamba addressed the university staff, students, union leaders and some members of the community who turned up to welcome the new management at the university.
“We will work together to rebuild Moi University back to the level of an academic giant,” he said.
Kotut assured both staff and students that their interests would be safeguarded under his leadership and the new university council.
He assured that moving forward no student will be barred from graduating on account of missing marks.
“I know the work ahead is not easy. But I request that we all team up and work hard so that we all succeed by having Moi University back on its feet,” Kotut said.
He also pledged to work with the local community at the main campus located at Kesses in Uasin Gishu County.
"With the support of the Ministry of Education, the council members under the chairmanship of Prof Noah Midamba and the university community, I am optimistic about delivering on the work ahead," he said.
He said restoration of the university would ensure it attracts both local and international students and also development partners.
"I will engage all stakeholders to ensure that we redeem the image of this premier university," he said.
Kotut said he would be a team leader with an inclusive leadership style.
On his part, the university council chairman assured the institution staff that their salaries for January will hit their back accounts by Friday.
"Expect your salary payments for January this Friday and those who will not have received it by then, just call me," Midamba said.
He revealed that the university which sits on 3,000 prime agricultural land was able to sustain itself instead of overlying on the central government subsidy.
The University Academic Staff Union ( UASU ) Moi University chapter Secretary General Busolo Wegesa and Kusa Kenya University Staff Union Secretary Mary Chepkemoi welcomed the acting VC.
“We are very hopeful that our new VC and the new council will deal with the issues that have been disturbing us for long. We will also work hard to rebuild Moi University,” Chepkwemoi said.
Wegesa exuded hope that the new VC would bring the much-needed unity and harmony within all departments and stakeholders needed to support the rebirth of Moi University.