Moi University Lecturers Go on Strike Over Unfulfilled Return-to-Work Agreement.
Moi University lecturers have gone on strike over the institution’s failure to honour a return-to-work agreement signed in November 2024.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Moi University Chapter said all academic staff had withdrawn their labour due to persistent non-compliance by the university management.
UASU Moi University Chapter Secretary, Busolo Wekesa, said the decision to strike was after months of unfulfilled promises despite signing a 25-clause return-to-work formula on November 30, 2024.
“We are not on strike because we enjoy it or want a salary increase. Salaries are already determined. We are striking because this is the last option left to us,” Wekesa said.
The union listed the following outstanding issues:
- Delayed and incomplete salaries.
- Alleged diversion of Ksh500 million government bailout fund.
- No promotions for over seven years.
- Pension arrears of over Ksh4.6 billion.
- Suspension of medical cover and lecturers are expected to pay out-of-pocket despite deductions.
Wekesa added that earlier conciliation efforts through the Ministry of Labour failed after the employer refused to cooperate. A seven-day strike notice issued by the union lapsed without any meaningful engagement from the Moi University Council.
UASU Moi University Chapter Vice Chairperson, Linda Khaemba, said the university disregards the union until forced by industrial action. She added that lack of financial support and healthcare had eroded staff morale and made it difficult for lecturers to mentor students.
“Management attempted an illegal redundancy exercise last year which the union stopped in court. Yet they still refused to restore our members’ financial dignity, even instructed banks not to loan our staff,” Khaemba said.
The union says the strike is not to get additional benefits but to compel the university to honour the existing agreements.UASU Secretary General, Constatine Opiyo, issued a circular on August 12, 2025, to all Moi University members to withdraw their labour until the return-to-work formula is implemented. The circular cited unpaid June and July 2025 salaries under the 2021–2025 CBA and non-implementation of the Ksh8.6 billion agreement on salaries and statutory deductions.
Over 900 lecturers have been denied access to healthcare services through the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a result of non-implementation of the agreement, according to the union.
“It is unfortunate 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,” Wekesa said.
Despite the strike, Moi University says academic programmes are on. In a statement dated 15th August 2025, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kiplagat Kotut told stakeholders that all teaching, exams, research and academic programmes are going on as scheduled.
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“We reiterate that teaching, exams, research and all academic programmes are going on as scheduled. This includes preparations for our first years to report on 21st August 2025 which will go on as planned,” Professor Kotut said.
He also urged students to stay focused: “Students should stay focused and we assure parents and guardians that the academic journey of their children is our top priority.”
The strike comes at a time when thousands of parents are set to register their first years at the institution on 21st August 2025.
Moi University Lecturers Go on Strike Over Unfulfilled Return-to-Work Agreement.
