Lecture halls at Moi University’s main campus and Eldoret town campuses remained empty for the fourth week as lecturers continued their strike over unmet government demands. Over 2,000 lecturers’ protests have severely affected first-year students, who have missed classes since arriving last month.
Medical students at the Eldoret campus are also impacted, with lecturers vowing not to resume work until all demands are met. Despite national union leaders from UASU and KUSU calling off the strike after signing a return-to-work agreement last Thursday, lecturers and non-teaching staff in Eldoret insist their strike is just beginning. They demand that the university management address their grievances, particularly regarding the implementation of the 2017/2022 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
On Friday, over 3,000 members of KUSU and the Kenya Medical Dentist and Practitioners Union North Rift chapter joined the protest, bringing Eldoret town to a standstill as they marched to the County Commissioner’s office. UASU Moi University chapter Secretary, Ojuki Nyabuta, blamed the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Kosgey, for failing to implement the CBA, which has been in limbo for seven years.
Tensions rose when armed police officers blocked the striking staff from entering the County Commissioner’s office. Undeterred, the group proceeded to Governor Jonathan Bii’s office, only to find the gates closed and enforcement officers informing them that the governor was unavailable.
