Striking staff at Moi University are yet to receive their salary arrears despite the Treasury's promise to disburse Sh3.5 billion to the institution.
Consequently, the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has petitioned the management to expedite the release of the funds as promised by the Parliamentary Committee on Education.
The money was part of the Sh8.6 billion salary arrears and statutory deductions owed to striking workers to facilitate a return-to-work formula and end the learning paralysis in the institution.
“The management needs to unlock the impasse by declaring the availability of the Sh3.5 billion and unveil a detailed account of how the money will be utilised to the benefit of the workers,” said Nyabuta Ojuki Uasu Moi University Chapter Secretary.
The Parliamentary Committee on Education, while on a tour of the financially troubled university two weeks ago, disclosed the release of Sh3.5 billion by The Treasury to salvage it from further crisis.
“The Sh3.5 billion is already in the university account and will be used only to settle verified arrears,” said Luanda MP Dickson Maungu who is a member of the House committee.
Although the committee disclosed that the funds had been wired to the university account to fast-track its reopening, the union on Sunday maintained that they are yet to receive any payment.
“The availability of the funds will enable most workers to meet their financial obligations and resume duties considering that we are in agreement with the management on most non-monetary issues,” added Mr Ojuki.
According to Uasu, Sh1.2 billion should be allocated to settle bank loans and another Sh1.2 billion towards Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) arrears while the rest will be distributed to Group Life Care, benevolent fund, union dues among other pending bills.
Learning activities remain paralysed despite the reopening of the university a week ago. The university management had issued threats of stern disciplinary action against staff who have not resumed work.
The crisis rocking the financially troubled university took a new twist on Sunday after the management issued more suspensions and show-cause letters to staff who had not reported to work.
“It has been decided that you be suspended from the service of Moi University with immediate effect, pending investigations into allegation that you were involved in calling for, taking part in, instigating, or inciting staff to continue participating in, an unprotected strike or any other form of industrial action,” stated a suspension letter signed by Prof Kirimi H. Kiriamiti, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Planning and Strategy to one of the affected workers.
The management, while directing the reopening of the university last Monday, asked the staff to resume duty or face disciplinary measures.
“All staff are directed that they are expected to be on duty and to discharge their duties as expected. Failure to comply with this directive shall result in consideration of appropriate disciplinary measures,” said a memo by Prof. Kiriamiti.
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.
The declining student enrolment from 50,000 in 2015 to 27,000 in 2021 and about 20,000 in 2023, closure of non-viable campuses, reduced exchequer funding due to implementation of differentiated Unit Cost in computing the recurrent capitation and rising cost of personnel enrolment due to National Collective Bargaining Agreements that have not been fully funded are other factors contributing to misfortunes facing the institution.
