The troubles facing cash-strapped Moi University are far from over after striking academic and non-academic staff, through their unions, set tough conditions to unlock the current stalemate before learning resumes.
This is after Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala, in a tweet, shared what she termed as a schedule of activities leading to the planned reopening of the university this Friday.
This included consultative meetings between the university management board and the workers through their unions— the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) and Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) from Monday to Wednesday.
The schedule shared by the PS anticipates the signing of a return-to-work formula on Wednesday and the reopening of the institution on Thursday by the Senate, with students returning on Friday.
“The State Department for Higher Education and Research will be at Moi University on Friday, November 8, 2024, to welcome the students back to the university. Comrade resilience,” she wrote.
However, Uasu and Kisu have accused Dr Inyangala of putting the cart before the horse, maintaining their stand on payment of salary and statutory deductions amounting to over Sh10 billion remains.
"We are ready to resume work once the management releases the money. It is paramount that they make the payment in full or come up with a concrete payment scheme acceptable to our members," said Nyabuta Ojuki, Uasu Chapter Secretary.
Both unions on Monday said they were ready for the talks, but set conditions on the immediate release of salary and deductions.
"The Senate closed down the university and it is their responsibility to reopen it. We are ready to resume work once they meet our conditions," added Mr Ojuki.
Kusu officials echoed the sentiments, asking the university management to hasten the process of honouring the payment.
"Let the university management release the full salary and deductions and our members will immediately resume work," said Bob Odhiambo Ng'ura, Kusu Moi University Kusu branch Chairman.
Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey confirmed the week-long negotiations with Uasu and Kusu officials on a return-to-work formula to facilitate the reopening of the institution.
The university management invited officials of the two unions for talks last Saturday for the week-long negotiations.
The climax is expected on Wednesday when national officials of both unions are expected to participate in negotiations meeting and signing of return to work agreement.
According to a memo by Prof Kosgey, the university will reopen on Thursday while the students will report on Friday.
The National Treasury has committed to release Sh2.9 billion to salvage the financially troubled university.
According to the National Assembly Committee on Education, the National Treasury released Sh609 million last month to support the university meet its financial obligations.
The committee Chairman Julius Melly said The Treasury is to release an additional 500 million this month to help stabilize operations at the university.
The institution was closed last month after learning activities were suspended as a result of unrelenting industrial action by teaching and non-teaching staff.
The university workers have accused the management of failing to meet its basic financial obligations and staff welfare matters among other challenges that have paralyzed smooth operations at the institution.
The striking workers through their unions turned down an earlier proposal by the Senate to reopen the university on Monday, November 4, arguing that they were not involved in the process of determining the date.
Moi University has previously admitted that it is in the red and the debt has accrued to more than Sh5 billion despite embarking on income-generating activities to raise funds to sustain its operations.
Among financial irregularities under probe at the university include failure to remit Sh4 billion in payroll deductions, defaulted on a Sh3 billion loan owed to Rivatex East Africa Limited, and accumulated Sh1.1 billion in unpaid bills as of June 2020.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba has confirmed that the university was grappling with significant financial issues, including certified outstanding debts of Sh8 billion.
Parliamentary Public Investments Committee on Education has petitioned Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to conduct a forensic audit of the university’s books of accounts.
The committee chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka has further recommended the suspension of all projects at the university and the hiring of new staff until the audit is concluded.
“I direct that the Auditor-General conducts a holistic forensic audit on Moi University covering the last five financial years and table its findings in 60 days,” directed Mr Wamboka when the University Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey appeared before the team last month (October).
The university management last week denied claims of plans to transfer students at its main campus in Kesses to other institutions due to present financial constraints.
