Amid ongoing efforts to stabilize operations at Moi University following a prolonged shutdown, a fresh controversy has erupted as the institution’s administration issued suspension and dismissal letters to all leaders of its academic staff unions.

This drastic move has left many questioning the institution’s approach to resolving its internal conflicts and has placed further strain on efforts to restart academic activities smoothly.

In a media briefing on Tuesday November 12, 2024, Busolo Egesa, the Chapter Secretary of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) at Moi University, expressed concern over the impact of these actions on the institution’s ability to fully resume teaching.

According to Egesa, the issuance of dismissal and suspension notices to union leaders is expected to deepen the rift between staff and management, complicating any efforts to address the underlying challenges within the university.

“Moi University has started handing in dismissal letters. As of now, they have already handed the letter to the leadership of all the university staff unions. All the leaders have been given the notice,” Egesa stated.

A senior Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) official reiterated these comments, saying that the letters’ publication had encouraged employees to vigorously defend their rights.

“We just want them to pay our loans and all the deductions that they have taken from us.

They should pay us, then we will come back to work. A salary is our right so you cannot tell us to get back to work just because you paid our salaries.

We haven’t been paid for two months,” she stated.

“They are trying to divide and rule. They are giving suspension letters selectively, feeding us fear.

We want to tell the management and the government that this has greatly fueled us to work more,” she added.

Egesa also disclosed that although members of parliament instructed the university administration to hold talks with the staff, they disregarded the order and began delivering warning letters prior to the committee’s departure on Friday, November 6.

“We believe there is someone who does not want Moi University issues to be discussed so they want to hide them by pushing the employees away,” he stated.

“We already know they are using intimidation tactics to force workers to go to work.

How do workers go to work if they have not been paid salaries for two months? How do workers go to work when their loans are in court and their property is being auctioned?”Egesa added.

“Graduation will not take place. Until all our issues are resolved, there will be no graduation system.

Moi University uses ERP system to produce the graduation list.

That ERP system has long been spoilt and we are currently using manual means and those lecturers who are still on strike are supposed to undertake this role,” Egesa concluded.