Photos: Moi University Admits Thousands of First-Year Students Despite Lecturers’ Strike
- Thousands of first-year students reported to Moi University in Kesses despite a fresh lecturers’ strike threat hanging over the institution
- Lecturers, through UASU, accused the university of ignoring a KSh 8.6 billion deal on arrears and deductions agreed upon to end a strike in 2024
- Moi University moved to calm parents and students, promising that the 2025/2026 academic year would continue smoothly as scheduled
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Uasin Gishu: Cold morning air in Kesses did not stop students and parents from turning up as Moi University began admitting first years.
Source: Original
Some families arrived as early as 6 am to secure places for their children.
The admissions kicked off only hours after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Moi University chapter, announced a strike on Wednesday, August 20.
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Why did Moi University lecturers announce strike?
The union said lecturers had withdrawn their services over the institution’s failure to honour a back-to-work agreement signed in November 2024.
That deal, worth KSh 8.6 billion in salary arrears and statutory deductions, had ended a previous strike.
Chapter secretary Busolo Wegesa argued that the management had failed to implement any of the 25 clauses in the collective bargaining agreement, despite the government releasing KSh 500 million as part of the settlement.
He added that the university had not remitted KSh 4.6 billion to the staff pension scheme and that deductions to the Social Health Authority for the past three months had also not been forwarded, leaving lecturers unable to access health services.
How did the Moi University admission process go?
In response, Moi University reassured students and parents that the industrial action would not disrupt the 2025/2026 academic calendar.
The institution stated that measures had been put in place to ensure operations continued smoothly and urged parents and guardians to allow their children to report as planned.
Source: Original
A spot check by TUKO.co.ke found the registration process running without major hitches at the Kesses main campus and at Eldoret Annex campus.
Parents expressed relief that the exercise was progressing well, with some admitting they had been worried by the news of the strike.
“Yesterday, we had many doubts after we heard about the strike. But now that we are here, we have found everything smooth,” said Peninah Njambi, a parent who accompanied her daughter.
Moi University’s acting vice chancellor, Kiplagat Kotut, was seen moving around the admission grounds and personally monitoring the process to ensure everything went as planned.
Did HELB release funds for first years?
In a related development, more than 300,000 university students began receiving long-awaited funds this week after the government released KSh 9.46 billion through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The disbursement brought relief to many learners who had been struggling with financial challenges.
Of the total amount, KSh 5.76 billion was allocated to cover tuition fees while KSh 3.7 billion went to student upkeep.
The funding aimed to ease the financial burden on families and allow students to concentrate on their studies.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
