Financially troubled Moi University may be forced to close its Nairobi campus in latest government strategy to salvage the giant institution from collapse.
Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Beatrice Inyangala on Thursday told the National Assembly committee on Education that among the proposals they have made to the university is to consider closing its Nairobi campus to save on operation costs.
According to the PS, should the institution close its Nairobi campus, it will save up to Sh50 million annually that will come in handy in addressing some of its financial woes.
“We are still in negotiations with the university but among the proposals that we have made is that it should close its Nairobi campus and that will save Sh50 million,” PS said.
Dr Inyangala was however not clear whether the proposal has been adopted or it’s still under consideration.
If the proposal is adopted, thousands of evening students in Nairobi risk being affected by the move as their fate is still not clear.
There have been consultative meetings with the university’s staff unions, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the government have been ongoing in a bid to find solutions to the institution.
The PS also told the Tinderet MP Julius Melly led committee that the government has so far paid the full salary of the university staff up to September.
In addition, she further disclosed to the committee that all statutory deductions of the employees have also been remitted up to September as it continues to find a permanent solution.
“We have guaranteed them full salary as we work on ways to settle the pending bills,” Dr Inyangala said.
However, despite the positive strides, MPs could take none of it, giving the government a maximum of two days to sort out the rot in the institution and ensure that normal operations resume within the shortest time possible.
“Moi University is a national emergency, go and resolve the issue because nothing is going on there,” Mr Melly told the PS
“If the issue is management, change it but this week, go solve the issue of Moi University,” Mr Melly added.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera said the problem at Moi University is largely management telling the PS that she cannot act on it, then the problems will persist.
“The issue there is governance, nothing will happen if you don’t sort it out,” Mr Nabwera said.
However, University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Constantine Wasonga said Moi University did not go on strike because of salaries alone telling the PS to address all the issues raised by the staff.
“It is me who called that strike, it is not just about salaries, there are pending bills that are not being addressed,” Prof Wasonga said.
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.
The university has witnessed a prolonged industrial action and resulting unrest among students led to the suspension of all academic activities at the institution, with students being instructed to vacate university premises.
The closure, came after rising tensions due to the unpaid salaries and the institution’s struggle to honour the CBA, escalated into violent protests.
Despite the university reopening two weeks ago, MPs expressed concern that no proper learning has been going on with students largely idle.
Last month, the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education called on the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to conduct an audit of the institution and avail the report within 60 days.
The development was reached after what MPs claim is an entrenched mismanagement and misappropriation in the university.
On Wednesday The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives questioned Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey over alleged embezzlement of Sh2.2 billion through fraudulent infrastructure projects.
The summons come in the wake of a prolonged standoff between the university management and the workers who have been on strike over non-payment of their salaries and other dues amounting to Sh8.6 billion.
Other allegations being investigated by the anti-graft body include allegations of corruption and procurement irregularities by the officials in the proposed construction of two floors in the schools of public health, dentistry and nursing.
