Ruto: Moi University's woes stem from internal governance issues

President William Ruto arrives for the State of the Nation address at Parliament on November 21, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

President William Ruto has attributed the challenges facing Moi University to internal administrative and governance issues.

In his State of the Nation address to Parliament on Thursday, the president said he had directed relevant authorities to address the institution's problems.

"Recognising the financial challenges faced by our universities and TVETs, we introduced a new student-centered higher education funding model. This model prioritises the most vulnerable students, offering them up to 95% government support while also pulling our universities back from the brink of collapse," said Ruto.

He added, "The remaining challenges for a few universities, like Moi University, are internal issues."

Moi University is currently  grappling with a debt of over Sh 8.6 billion, owed to its staff and third parties over the past seven years. This financial crisis has plunged the institution into turmoil, leading to an 86-day staff strike.

On the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), President Ruto highlighted his administration's efforts to strengthen the education system, including the recruitment of 56,000 teachers and plans to hire an additional 20,000 by January 2025.

He also noted that the seamless transition of learners from primary to junior secondary school had been successful, citing the decision to domicile Grades 7, 8, and 9 in primary schools as a strategic move.

"We have ensured the smooth transition of learners from primary to junior secondary school by domiciling Grades 7, 8, and 9 in primary schools. This optimises the use of existing infrastructure, ensures the safety of young learners, and protects parents from the high costs associated with boarding schools," he said.