Moi University: Our problems are historical, not managerial

Moi University council chairman Dr Humphrey Njuguna has dismissed claims that the Eldoret-based university is on its deathbed.

Speaking during the 42 graduation ceremony at the main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, on Friday, Dr Njuguna outlined a string of projects the university is undertaking to restore its financial stability and boost services.

“Our financial challenges have nothing to do with mismanagement. These are historical challenges,” he said.

He added: “Financial problems cut across all public universities in Kenya. Some universities are in deeper problems than we are.”

In September, lecturers at the university went on strike, demanding the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement and remittance of statutory deductions that had been pending.

The strike would see students sent home immediately as details of the worst financial crisis to hit the university emerged.

Crisis being addressed

Vice-chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey, however, assured university stakeholders that the crisis was being addressed by the management.

Then last week, more than 200 teaching physicians downed their tools, demanding payment of allowances.

The allowances, amounting to Sh200 million, have been withheld by Moi University for about two years. Each of the striking physicians is owed about Sh1.5 million.

According to Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s 2019/2020 report, the university had not remitted Sh1.9 billion in pensions alone.

The doctors’ strike was expected to paralyse operations at Moi Teaching Referral Hospital, where they provide clinical services.

Moi University’s troubles began when revenues dwindled following the scrapping of the privately sponsored students programme popularly known as “parallel”.

Dr Njuguna said the university made up to Sh6 billion in 2015 when the number of students was about 60,000.

“Today, we have about 30,000 students, and we can’t raise Sh6 billion. The government hasn’t filled this gap in funding,” he said.

Innovative projects

To plug the deficit, Dr Njuguna said the university is undertaking a number of innovative projects, among them what he called the “apple vision”.

Under that plan, Moi University, which owns more than 3,000 acres of land in Eldoret, will farm and process apples to produce juice and other products.

In addition, the university has broken ground on a modern student village, which will feature facilities such as swimming, an indoor games arena and accommodation units.

For the past 10 years, inadequate student accommodation has been one of the challenges bedevilling the university, with thousands of students forced to seek off-campus housing, often at exorbitant rents.

Some housing projects at the university have stalled for more than 20 years.

Investor

Dr Njuguna noted: “We have an investor who will undertake this project. Already, we’re consulting the Ministry of Education.”

Work on the project will be completed in 30 months, after which the investor will manage the facility for 20 years before it is given to the university, he said.

Besides housing, the university also has a shortage of lecture halls. Three years ago, there was a national uproar when some students had to attend lectures under tents.

Meanwhile, plans are underway to build a fully equipped amphitheatre at Moi University, with a capacity of 3,000 students.

On other stalled projects, Dr Njuguna noted the “shame” of the unfinished university gate, promising that it will be completed soon. A tender has been advertised for the project.

More than 5,000 students graduated with doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees and diplomas.

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