Lecturers at the Moi University in Eldoret have downed their tools, spelling doom for the thousands of parents who are expected to register their children at the institution from Thursday, 21 August.
In a statement on Wednesday August 20, Busolo Wegesa, secretary of the university's chapter of Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), claimed that the varsity's management had not yet taken steps to honour an existing return-to-work agreement, despite notices from the staff.
According to the union, the management's reluctance to implement the Ksh8.6 billion agreement on salaries and statutory deductions has led to over 900 lecturers lacking health services through the Social Health Authority (SHA).
"It is unfortunate that the university management has not implemented any of the 25 clauses of the CBA despite the government releasing Ksh500 million as part of the deal," Wegesa stated.
"We are not demanding any salary increment but simply what belongs to us under the return-to-work formula signed with the university management," he added.
The strike comes exactly seven days after the union issued a strike notice. In their notice, the union had also claimed that the University had failed to pay them their June and July 2025 salaries as agreed upon in the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
"The Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) hereby issues a seven-day strike notice with effect from the date of this letter to the Moi University Council over the following four failures," the strike notice read.
After the notice, Moi University Administration, however, came out and assured students, parents, guardians, and all stakeholders that the university's activities would remain uninterrupted.
In a statement on Friday, August 15, the university's Vice-Chancellor, Kiplagat Kotut, claimed that all teaching examinations, research, and academic programmes are continuing as scheduled.
Kutut further encouraged students to remain focused as the university ensures the continued delivery of quality education.
“We reiterate that teaching, examinations, research, and all academic programmes are continuing as scheduled. This includes preparations for the reporting of our first-year students on Thursday, August 21, 2025, which will proceed as planned," the VC stated.
"Students are encouraged to remain focused on their studies, and we assure parents and guardians that the academic journey of their children remains our highest priority,” he added.
