Moi University management suspends UASU officials

By Peter Ochieng

Moi University management has taken a stern action against Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) officials at the institution.

The management suspended over 20 UASU officials, on the backdrop of a strike that has crippled learning activities at the university for weeks on end.

UASU Moi university main campus branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta, confirmed the new development, adding that they received the suspension letters signed by Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Kirimi Kiriamiti.

“The officials had to hold their meeting outside the university gate after we were blocked from entering the campus by the management,” he said.

Ojuki said they remain unbowed by the move, insisting that they will only return to work after their demands have conclusively been addressed.

“Union officials started receiving the suspension letters last week in a move meant to intimidate us and scuttle our mission but we will remain strong and unmoved. We will not be shaken and we remain on strike until we are paid all our salary-related dues," said Ojuki.

Moi university management, Ojuki added, had also sent out show cause letters to the more than 1,000 lecturers who have been on strike. The university reopened last week after being shut for several weeks.

However, no learning activities are ongoing owing to the ongoing lecturers’ strike. Ojuki stated that the university owes them Sh11 billion in salary arrears.

“The management is not our employer. The law says we are employed by the council which is the one with the mandate to negotiate with us and hence could not attend illegal meetings with management. We have not met or signed any return-to-work deal and therefore our strike remains in place,” Ojuki maintained.

Efforts to end the stalemate have so far been unsuccessful, with some lecturers and workers pushing the removal of the management led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Kosgei.