Moi University students on Thursday evening staged a protest following the institution’s decision to close indefinitely due to ongoing unrest involving both students and lecturers. The closure, which was announced by Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey, sparked outrage among the students, who view the decision as a direct threat to their right to education.

Highlights:

• Moi University students protest indefinite closure and demand VC’s resignation.
• The closure followed a week-long strike by university staff over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions.
• Students accuse Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey of mismanagement and ignoring grievances raised by lecturers and non-teaching staff.

Students protest indefinite closure

The students gathered outside the university premises, lighting bonfires and chanting slogans demanding the immediate resignation of the vice chancellor. “The Vice-Chancellor must go!” echoed through the streets as they marched through the nearby town, disrupting normal activities. In footage shared online, the protesters could be seen expressing their frustrations over the continued mismanagement of the institution.

Vice Chancellor Kosgey’s decision to close the university came after a week-long protest by lecturers and non-teaching staff, who had been demanding payment of delayed salaries and implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In a statement released earlier on Thursday, the university administration directed all students to vacate the campus immediately, citing the unrest caused by staff strikes and student demonstrations.

University senate’s response

“The University Senate, in a special meeting held today, Thursday, October 3, 2024, resolved to suspend the teaching and learning activities of the 1st Semester 2024/2025 Academic Year as a consequence of the industrial action by staff and subsequent student unease,” read part of the notice issued by the university.

The statement also directed international students to reach out to the Dean of Students for further instructions, assuring them that reopening dates would be communicated in due course.

Lecturers and non-teaching staff had staged demonstrations in Eldoret on Wednesday, October 2, demanding improved working conditions and payment of their overdue salaries. The workers also accused the university management of unauthorised third-party deductions from their payslips, a grievance that sparked further outrage.

Students accuse Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey of mismanagement

As the protests gained momentum, Moi University students expressed solidarity with the staff and joined the demonstrations, demanding that the university leadership take immediate action. Their primary demand is the resignation of Vice Chancellor Kosgey, whom they blame for the ongoing crisis.

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This protest is part of a larger wave of unrest sweeping across Kenyan universities, with students and staff in other institutions also raising concerns over management issues, fee hikes, and poor working conditions. With tensions rising at Moi University, it remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the escalating crisis, as students vow to continue protesting until their demands are addressed.