- Eldoret, Kenya: Moi University Shutdown Indefinitely Over Staff and Students Protests.
Moi University has been closed indefinitely, and students have been urged to leave the premises over what the administration says was due to an industrial action by staff, which has since paralyzed learning activities in the institution.
On Thursday, the University Senate committee resolved to suspend academic activities, prompting another huge protest among students outraged by the action.
In an internal memo, the institution said teaching and learning activities of the 1st semester were suspended due to the ongoing staff and student protests.
“The University Senate, in a Special Meeting held today, Thursday 3rd October, 2024, resolved to suspend the teaching and learning activities of the 1st Semester 2024/2025 Academic Year as a consequence of the industrial action of staff and subsequent student unease,” the memo read.
All students have been frivolously encouraged to leave the University premises with ‘immediate effect’ as all campuses remain closed until further notice. Halls of residents remain closed; however, international students have been urged to seek guidance from the Dean of Students.
The university has said the reopening dates will be communicated later, even as the university council and management remained engaged to ensure that learning activities are resumed as soon as possible.
In September, dons and staff across all public universities took their disparity to the streets, demanding the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a protest that took a toll on university operations for two weeks.
Last week, the government sealed the deal with the university staff unions to allow for academic normalcy on campuses.
CitizenTV reported that the Moi University staged another protest due to the delayed implementation of the CBA and unpaid salaries. They presented the petition to the Speaker and MCS of the county government of Uasin Gishu.
Learning resumed in many universities across the country, including major ones like the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Egerton University.
