The Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) has once again issued a seven-day strike notice to Moi University, citing delayed salaries and failure by the institution to honour key agreements signed with the union.
In a statement dated August 12, UASU Secretary General Constantinte Opiyo announced that all union members at Moi University will withdraw their labour should the institution fail to address the outstanding issues. The strike is set to commence on August 20, 2025.
According to Opiyo, the union’s grievances revolve around unpaid salaries for June and July 2025, which they demand be settled in line with the negotiated 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rates. He stressed that the union will not back down until the terms of the agreement are fully implemented. Moi university lecturers on a strike due to delayed pay
Demands for Full Implementation of Agreements The union is also demanding that Moi University honour the Return-To-Work Formula signed between UASU and the University Council on November 30, 2024. The formula was meant to end an earlier dispute between the two parties, but the union says the institution has failed to live up to its commitments.
In addition, UASU wants full compliance with clauses in the 2021–2025 National Collective Bargaining Agreement relating to the review and promotion of staff, as well as the retirement age. The union argues that these provisions are critical for improving staff welfare and ensuring fair treatment of employees.
Opiyo further called for the upholding of workers’ fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed under Article 41 and Chapter 4 of the Constitution of Kenya. “We expect the university management to respect the constitutional rights of its employees and to operate within the legal framework that governs labour relations in the country,” he said.
A History of Management Challenges
The latest strike threat comes against the backdrop of ongoing management challenges at Moi University. The institution has in recent years been plagued by leadership wrangles, financial mismanagement, and frequent industrial actions, leading to disruptions in learning and growing frustration among both students and parents.
The university’s financial troubles have often resulted in delayed salaries and allowances, causing tension between staff and management. These challenges have tarnished the institution’s reputation, which was once regarded as one of Kenya’s leading centres of higher learning.
Government Intervention and Leadership Changes
In an effort to address the crisis, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba in January this year inaugurated a new university council, expressing hope that the fresh leadership would restore stability. Ogamba said the government had made a bold decision to dissolve the previous council due to poor management that had contributed to the institution’s decline.
“The decision to overhaul the council was necessary to ensure that order and normal learning could resume at Moi University,” the CS said during the inauguration ceremony. He emphasised that the government’s priority was to bring an end to the governance and leadership problems that had plunged the university into a prolonged period of instability and despondency.
Despite these changes, however, the university continues to face operational and financial challenges. The looming strike is likely to further disrupt academic activities, just months after the government’s intervention.
Implications for Students and Learning
The prospect of another industrial action has raised concerns among students, parents, and education stakeholders. Prolonged strikes have in the past led to extended academic calendars, forcing students to spend more time in school than planned. This has financial implications for parents and guardians, while also affecting the morale of students and staff alike.
Stakeholders are now calling for urgent dialogue between UASU and Moi University’s management to avert the strike and ensure learning continues without interruption.Some have urged the Ministry of Education to step in and facilitate negotiations to avoida stalemate that could further damage the institution’s credibility.
Uncertain Road Ahead
As the August 20 deadline approaches, attention will be on whether Moi University management can meet the union’s demands or find a middle ground to prevent the strike. Failure to resolve the issues could plunge the institution into yet another cycle of disruption, undermining efforts to restore its standing in Kenya’s higher education sector.
For now, UASU maintains that its members will not return to class until salaries are paid, agreements honoured, and the rights of workers respected. With both sides holding firm, the coming days will be critical in determining whether Moi University can avoid another crisis or if it will once again be brought to a standstill by industrial action.
