President William Ruto on Thursday, November 21, spoke about the debacle surrounding Moi University.
While delivering his State of the Nation address at Parliament, Ruto blamed the events that have transpired at Moi University on internal administration and governance issues. He added that he has issued instructions to fix the mess.
“The challenges in Moi University are related to internal administrative and governance issues which I have given firm instructions that should be addressed,” he asserted.
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.
The aftermath of the Moi University saga saw the Ethics and the Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) summon VC Kosgey to their Eldoret offices.
After his grilling, which lasted well 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.
Ruto spoke on the embattled university while drumming up support for the new university funding model which he said was aimed at improving higher education in the country.
Recognising the financial challenges facing our universities and technical vocational education and training institutions (TVET), the government introduced a new student-centered higher education funding model,” Ruto stated.
“This model gives priority to the most vulnerable students with up to 95 per cent government support while also pulling our universities back from the brink of collapse,” he claimed.
