Blunders and rot that brought down Moi University

 

The main entrance to Moi University. [File, Standard]

A sorry state, crushed hopes, cries, and the horror of dreams that never saw the light of day sum up the tale of Kenya’s second-oldest university – Moi.

Even as workers yesterday signed a return-to-work formula, the agreement is yet to erase the troubles that have bedevilled institution for nearly eight years.

Fascinatingly, Moi University located on the outskirts of Eldoret City was named in honour of Kenya’s second President Daniel Moi, a gigantic name in the country’s political history.

Even its vast lush land and architectural masterpieces have been overshadowed by troubles that have defied all efforts to turn around the institution that was once the dream university for many KCSE candidates.

With debts of more than Sh8.6 billion, coupled with a frosty relationship between management and staff, Moi University is a pale showdown of its former self.

Students and the neighbouring community in Kesses, Uasin Gishu Count, are also not in good terms with an institution they cherish.

Those close to the university management and the running of its affairs paint a grim picture of an institution they say has been in a seven-year turmoil.

According to Obusolo Wekesa, the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Chapter Secretary, a three-month strike was triggered by unresolved issues among them an unremitted pension for the last seven years, outstanding collective bargaining agreements arrears for 2017 to 2021, and unremitted loan deductions for 50 months.

But the rain started beating Moi University nearly a decade ago. Even Prof Laban Ayiro (the current Vice Chancellor of Day Star University) struggled when he was the acting VC of the institution for one year between 2016 and 2017, lecturers say.

Wekesa and a number of staff who have worked at the institution for years say the government turned a deaf ear to a number of questions including the appointment of the university’s leadership.

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He says the struggles of the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kosgey, have been in vain, but observes that he (Prof Kosgey) should blame himself for the troubles the institution is facing.

The don says some of the problems that crippled Moi University affected other institutions but the university failed to find ways of getting itself out of the financial challenges.

Moi University Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgei (centre) before the PIC Education and Governance at Parliament Buildings Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Part of the problems of Moi University, Wekesa explains, was the opening of numerous campuses, a move motivated by a need to expand the reach for higher education.

“It was initially a wise move but the initiatives were later killed by selfish interests. Members of council and management started competing and each one wanted to have a university campus in their neighbourhood,” the lecturer says

He goes on to say: “For instance, Odera Akang’o Moi University Campus was set up in Yala, next to Maseno University and it was swallowed by Maseno University.”

According to the lecturers’ representative, the Odera Akang’o campus was set up to honour the former chancellor, Prof Bethwel Okoth.

“As one way of pleasing its chancellor, Moi University acquired the land and decided to run it as a privately sponsored institution. It was unable to generate resources that the university had put in it.’’

Mombasa and West Campus in Eldoret were among the other campuses. Some of the satellites such as Karatina became fully-fledged universities.

Forensic audit

“The people who set up campuses did not have goodwill. They established them for selfish reasons. Some individuals benefitted and when a forensic audit is done, you will know how they benefited and to what amount,” he claims.

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Apart from campuses, Moi University invested heavily in textile company, Rivatex East Africa, a loss-making firm which was revived in 2018.

The university’s staff describe Rivatex as a dark cloud and one of many investments that gobbled millions but with little or no returns.

“It was a dark cloud. It is surprising that with a class of about 60 students, someone pumped Sh5 billion to set up facilities. We have programmes that have more than 1,000 students but we have not set up facilities for them.

“How we could acquire Rivatex at Sh5 billion to teach 60 students is one of the most ridiculous things. How did Moi University invest in a company that was already dead?” Wekesa asks.

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu in her recent report found that Rivatex made cumulative losses amounting to Sh3 billion by 2023. The statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income reflects a net loss of Sh347,592,549 and the statement of financial position reflects accumulated loss balance of Sh3,041,471,831 as of June 30, 2023,” the auditor general said in her report.

The report further states: “The management (of Rivatex) attributes the poor performance to constant lack of raw materials such as cotton, high cost of inputs such as labour, electricity and water, fuel, spares and consumables, repairs and maintenance that had hindered the Company’s ability to produce and supply its products on time.”

The former Direct Unit Cost (DUC) model of funding ensured universities delivered funding with ease.

Under the model, the student paid a small amount and the government paid a bigger chunk depending on the course.

“Vice Chancellors created a problem after universities got money from parallel degree programmes and started telling the government that they were able to fund several programmes and that’s when the government progressively reduced monies injected into institutions of higher learning. When parallel degree programmes were still on, vice-chancellors were comfortable and never pressured the government for money.

“Government started reducing capitation from 80 per cent to 40 per cent after discovering that universities could make money from programmes. The capitation cash stopped coming regularly. Vice-chancellors were putting parallel degree money in meaningless projects and ended up employing a larger number of staff than required for unclear reasons.

Dr Richard Okero, Uasu chairman Moi University chapter laments over a decision by the institution’s management to recruit key decision-makers in an acting capacity.

“Human resources have been messed up, run by a non-professional. The university has not hired for many years but the payroll is not reducing. People are retiring every year but the payroll is the same,” Dr Okero complains.

He adds: “The finance docket is the engine of an institution but has no substantive head. Former finance Deputy Chancellor, Prof Daniel Tarus, acted for seven years before he left to take up the same role, substantively in Rongo University. The University workers woke up one day to find that the position of deputy vice-chancellor of finance was scrapped off and taken to the vice chancellor’s office. The chief finance officer has not been substantive for many years.

“The chief accountant and head of salaries have been serving in an acting capacity for many years. The decision-making organs at Moi University have been faulty.  Many heads of departments, are holding positions in an acting capacity.”

He says Moi University management has been designed to give one individual power to bulldoze many decisions and the Senate programmed to rubber stamp them.

“If the Senate was independent, it would not have recalled students back to the University when the workers strike was ongoing. When the management of Moi University is changed, all members of staff will be ready to work closely with a new team to turn around the institution,” he says.

The university was already struggling when Prof Kosgey was coming in, workers claim.

“The current vice chancellor refused to meet staff. As unions, we made efforts to meet him but he refused to meet his staff seven years down the line,” says Okero.

Mary Chepkwemoi, the acting Kenya Universities Staff Union branch secretary claims: “For the last seven years, we gave Prof Kosgey time to formulate a strategy to turn around Moi University and we granted him the request. During Covid-19 pandemic, he sought more time and we understood him.”

According to Chepkwemoi, the situation at the university worsened and workers were given 23 per cent salary after Covid-19 pandemic.

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“Moi University workers have been in the intensive care unit. We have fought to be resuscitated and taken to the wards. Many workers who took payoff loans were blacklisted by banks and their property including cars were attached,” she says.

Moi University through its council says the challenges that the institution faces can’t surmounted within a short period of time.

The university says it was supported by the government to revive the now loss-making Rivatex.

It admitted that it has been making enough to run its operations in close to a decade.

“The university was also instrumental in restarting the cotton industry in the Western part of the nation through the acquisition of Rivatex in 2006 initially as a research and training facility for its Textile Engineering programme. The subsequent move to production has provided a much-needed market for cotton farmers in the Rift Valley and Western region of this nation,” the council said in a statement signed by council chairman Humphrey Kimani.

The council added: “The university has also witnessed a significant decline in student enrolment in its undergraduate programmes that form the bulk of its revenue base. These programmes were either government-sponsored or privately sponsored. For example, for the 2024/2025 academic year, about 6,000 first-year students were placed in the institution, as against a declared capacity of over 14,000 students, and over 47,000 applicants to the university’s undergraduate programmes.”