Ruto orders swift action to resolve rot, decline at Moi University

President William Ruto inspects a guard of honour mounted by Kenya Airforce personnel during the State of the Nation address at Parliament on November 21, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

President William Ruto on Thursday directed immediate resolution of challenges facing Moi University.

Ruto pointed fingers at the university leadership for the ongoing crisis that has seen the institution closed for 86 days.

Speaking in Parliament during the State of the Nation address, Ruto said that troubles at Moi University stem from internal administrative and governance issues.

“The remaining challenges for a few universities such as Moi University are related to internal administrative and governance issues which I have given firm instructions they must be addressed,” Ruto said.

He spoke as it emerged that the institution plans to close its Nairobi campus by January as part of its cost-cutting measures.

“The closure of the campus alone is going to save the university Sh50 million annually, and there are more measures we will be looking into,” Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala told MPs on Thursday while appearing before the Education Committee of the National Assembly.

MPs sought answers regarding the university’s continued closure, with Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera calling the situation a significant disservice to students.

“It is a shame that at Moi University, first-year students have not attended even a single class since the semester began. This is a serious national matter that should be urgently resolved,” Nabwera said.

Inyangala said the government had provided funds for full salary payments since September, marking a departure from the previous practice where university staff received only a fraction of their salaries.

She further disclosed that the university’s pending bills amounting to Sh8.6 billion have been forwarded to the pending bills committee for verification.

Julius Melly, the Education Committee chair, directed the Ministry to resolve the standoff and ensure that learners return to class by today, November 22.

The President’s directive to resolve the crisis comes amid an investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into the university’s spending on development projects.

University Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey appeared at the EACC offices in Eldoret on Wednesday for an interview and record a statement concerning the institution’s management.

Documents seen by The Standard revealed the dire financial state of the institution, with over Sh8.6 billion owed to staff and third parties over the past seven years.

A letter from a staff member to the President detailed these debts, which include Sh4.2 billion in unpaid pensions, Sh1.2 billion in loans, Sh1.6 billion in postgraduate salary arrears, and additional dues for welfare, gratuities, and union fees.

In his State of the Nation address, President Ruto highlighted achievements in the education sector during his administration, stating that the sector was on its knees when he assumed office in 2022.

He noted that the country faced a shortage of over 110,000 teachers and that 23 out of 40 public universities were technically insolvent, lacking the capacity to pay their debts.

Ruto said his administration employed 56,000 teachers in one year.