The downfall of the former prestigious Moi University in Uasin Gishu county has been attributed to two factors – tribalism and graft.
Moi University was closed indefinitely and students ordered to vacate its main campus in Eldoret by noon on October 28th 2021.
The university’s workers and lecturers downed their tools citing delays in payment of their salaries and failure by the institution to implement the 2017/2021 Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) and consequent salary arrears.
The employees, through their unions Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu), Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu)and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), vowed to continue with their strike until their grievances are heard and demands met.
Moi University is indebted, it cannot pay staff and remit deductions. Casual workers have not been paid for more than a year.
Several projects to expand the university have also stalled because of mismanagement, the institution is on the verge of collapse.
Moi University’s woes started sometimes in 2016 with wrangles over the selection of Vice Chancellor (VC).
In September 2016, the row over the VC position took a political angle when Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) and several MPs including controversial Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi stormed the university and demanded Isaac Kosgey to be appointed as Vice Chancellor.
Professor Laban Ayiro, who is a Luhya, was the acting Vice Chancellor. However local politicians demanded that a Kalenjin take charge of Moi University.
Mandago and the others claimed that Kosgey excelled in the interviews which had been conducted to select the Vice Chancellor.
Kosgey topped in the interviews conducted amid claims that some panelists deliberately down-graded Ayiro to deny him the position.
Ayiro came second but claims of bribery caused former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to put the appointment on hold.
However, with the political pressure mounted by local politicians, then Education CS Amina Mohamed was forced to appoint Isaac Kosgey as Moi University VC in 2018.
Professor Ayiro left Moi University and in March 2019 he was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Daystar University after coming top in the selection interview.
For Moi University, the entry of Isaac Kosgey spelled doom to the prestigious learning institution as evident by the current woes.
Tribalism took a firm hold of Moi University with Kosgey’s entry. All senior position at the varsity are occupied by ethnic Kalenjins.
Moi University’s portal, where all staff are listed from top management to faculties, shows that there is no room for other tribes to occupy at the varsity.
See the list below:
Mrs. Petrolina Chepkwony- senior legal officer
Professor Robert Tenge Kuremu- Ag. principal college of health sciences
Dr. Alfred Serem- Dean school of agriculture and natural resources
Professor Peter Simatei-Dean School of arts and social sciences
Dr. Josephat Cheboi- Ag. Dean School of Business and economics
Dr John Chebii- Dean School of law
Dr. Dinah Chelagat- Dean School of nursing
Professor Ambrose Kiprop- Dean School of sciences and aerospace studies
Professor Jacqueline Korir- Associate. Dean School of tourism hospitality and events management
Professor J. Kibiiy- Associate Dean School of engineering
Dr. Z.K Kosgei- associate Dean School of education
Dr Abraham Mulwo Kiprop- associate Dean School of information sciences
In the university’s council where the VC Professor Isaac Kosgey serves as the secretary, Mr. David Ronoh is a member.
Dr. Joyce Komen- Ag. Direct ICT
Professor Catherine Kiprop- director IGERD
Professor Rose Ruto Korir- director IODL
Professor Charles Lagat- director IPLA
And professor Michael Korir- director quality research.
Tribalism aside, Moi University is also grappling with Ksh4.5 billion debt among other cases of corruption and mismanagement which is being handled by EACC.
Related: Dr. Ngugi Kimonjo Explains How William Ruto Brought Moi University To Its Knees