The Head of State reckoned that what Moi University was facing were internal administration and governance issues
President William Ruto on Thursday, November 21 addressed the thorny issues surrounding Moi University. The institution of higher learning has suffered challenges, including a prolonged lecturers’ strike due to payment issues, that led to the closure of the institution before it was recently reopened.
During his State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the Head of State reckoned that what Moi University was facing were internal administration and governance issues, which he directed the leadership to fix.
This is despite staff at the university asking for President Ruto’s intervention with financial data showing the institution is drowning in debt, owing over Ksh8.6 billion to its staff and third parties over the past seven years. This financial strain has plunged the institution into a crisis, resulting in an 86-day staff strike and leaving students stranded.
Ruto touched on the university while drumming up support for the new university funding model which he said was aimed at improving higher education in the country.
Moi University administration block. /MOI UNIVERSITY
“Recognizing financial challenges raised by our universities, we introduced a new funding model. This model gives priority to the most vulnerable students while also pulling our universities back from the brink of collapse.
“The remaining challenges for a few universities like Moi University are related to internal administrative and governance issues, which I have given firm instructions that they should be addressed,” President Ruto remarked.
The financial data, contained in a letter to the President three weeks ago, highlighted that the university failed to pay Ksh4.2 billion in pensions, Ksh1.2 billion in loans, Ksh1.6 billion in postgraduate salary arrears, and additional dues for welfare, gratuities, and union fees.
In the letter, staff appealed to the government to provide Ksh2.8 billion to address their immediate needs and enable the resumption of operations.
Moi University was closed indefinitely on Thursday, October 3, 2024, over student unrest after industrial action by university staff crippled operations at the university. The workers accused Moi University management of exploiting them through third-party deductions from workers’ payslips which did not reflect in their overall balances.
The move to close the institution was met with fierce opposition by students who consequently staged demonstrations. The students called for the immediate resignation of Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey who they accused of mismanagement of the university and its funds.
On Wednesday, Kosgey appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) following a summons. He is being investigated by EACC over allegations of embezzlement of public funds amounting to Ksh2.2 billion.
“Following summons, Moi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kosgei is currently before investigators at the Commission’s North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret over the alleged embezzlement of public funds and procurement irregularities involving multiple infrastructural projects worth Ksh2.2 billion.
“The Commission is also undertaking investigations targeting top officials of the University of Nairobi and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology over related violations of the law,” EACC stated.
After his grilling, which lasted over 8 hours, Kosgey said he had addressed the issues raised by EACC and that he respects their work.
It emerged that the institution is grappling with significant debts exceeding Ksh8 billion, which have led to disruptions in learning activities due to strikes by lecturers and staff protesting against the administration’s handling of financial matters.
