By Our Reporter
WORLD
The entire top leadership of Moi University of Kenya has been sent packing.
The announcement was made by the Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba today 1st February, 2025.
Ogamba quoting the University’s Council resolutions made on 31st January, 2025 fired the Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey sending him on an eight-month annual leave.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Research and Extension Student Affairs, Prof Isaac Kimengi, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Planning and Strategy, Prof Eng. Henry Kiriamiti have also been sent one year Sabbatical leave.
Suspended also are the Chief of Finance, and legal officers.
Prof Kiplagat Kotut has been appointed Acting Vice Chancellor following a rigorous interview process and his appointment was effective from Friday, 31st January, 2025. Kiplagat had been Embu University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics, Research & Extension).
The New Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Research and Extension Student Affairs is Prof Kayemba Ngeti.
The sacking follows recommendations from National Assembly Education Committee late last year that Moi University’s management team be disbanded and placing the institution under caretaker leadership to address persistent administrative and financial challenges.
The call was made following protests by university staff over unpaid salary arrears.
Melly, Tinderet MP, criticised the administration under Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Sanga Kosgey, vowing to remove the team to save the institution from collapse.
“Together with my committee members, we have walked around the university, from the farm to lecture halls and other facilities. The entire situation is chaotic,” he said, highlighting the university’s poor infrastructure and operational state.
The Education Committee’s visit aimed to mediate the standoff between the university administration and employees over salary disputes that have crippled learning.
Members of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), the Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu), and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) had criticised the administration for not presenting clear plans to settle substantial outstanding debts owed to them.
According to union representatives, the university had accumulated more than Sh10 billion in unpaid salaries and statutory deductions, a burden that employees demanded be addressed immediately.
The university was closed on October 3, 2024, due to student unrest triggered by a staff strike over poor working conditions. Kosgey had directed all students to vacate the campus immediately following the closure.
“The University Senate, in a special meeting held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, resolved to suspend teaching and learning activities for the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year due to the industrial action by staff and subsequent student unrest,” read the notice.
The university also directed international students to liaise with the Dean of Students for further instructions, with reopening dates to be communicated later.
Workers also staged protests in Eldoret City, accusing the university management of exploiting them through third-party deductions that did not reflect in their payslips.
In a bid to restore operations, Prof. Kosgey announced plans to reopen the university on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, detailing a matrix to settle arrears.
