Silverio Omari
Moi University, which has been closed since October 3, 2024, is preparing to reopen following a month-long strike involving over 4,000 staff members protesting delayed salaries and issues related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The university has issued a detailed schedule for meetings and negotiations aimed at facilitating a smooth transition back to normal operations.
According to a notice from Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac S. Kosgey, consultative meetings with the university’s staff unions—the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU)—began on Saturday, November 2, and will continue until Wednesday, November 6.
These meetings will lead up to the official reopening of the university on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
The engagement schedule includes high-level discussions among university management, union representatives, and the university’s governing bodies.
On Saturday, November 2, and Monday, November 4, consultative meetings with UASU and KUSU were held. Negotiation meetings will proceed on Tuesday, November 5, with a final negotiation session and signing of the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) planned for Wednesday, November 6.
The university’s reopening is set for Thursday, November 7, with students expected to return on Friday, November 8.
The extended strike and subsequent unrest led to the suspension of all academic activities, requiring students to vacate university premises. The closure was prompted by escalating tensions over unpaid salaries and the institution’s difficulties in honoring the CBA, which culminated in violent protests last month.
Students protested on campus, resulting in injuries and clashes with riot police. Union leaders and students appealed to President William Ruto for intervention, highlighting the crisis threatening the university’s very existence.
Recently, leaders from UASU and KUSU had called off the strike, but many university employees remained steadfast in their demands, insisting they would not return to work until their issues were addressed. This determination was underscored by hundreds of workers marching to the Uasin Gishu County Assembly to voice their grievances, pledging to continue their strike until a viable solution was achieved.
Dj Vnyash
