Moi University Lecturers Oppose Proposed Redundancies as UASU Warns of Possible Disruption .

A labour dispute is intensifying at Moi University following plans to declare 75 permanent and pensionable lecturers redundant. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has rejected the proposed job cuts and is calling for the redundancy notices to be withdrawn. The union is also demanding an independent audit of the university before any further decisions are made. Speaking to journalists at Moi University’s PDN facility on Monday, UASU Moi University chapter secretary Prof. Robert Oduori, chapter chairman David Kosgei and national trustee Dr Jane Michael criticised the proposed staff reductions and called for government intervention. Prof. Oduori said the union was concerned that the university was reducing its permanent academic workforce despite continued student enrolment and staffing shortages in some departments. He questioned why permanent lecturers were being targeted when the institution continues to engage part-time academic staff to meet teaching demands. According to Oduori, an independent audit should establish the university’s financial position, staffing requirements, payroll situation and the criteria used to identify lecturers for redundancy. UASU believes such an assessment would determine whether the job cuts are unavoidable or whether other measures could address the university’s financial difficulties. David Kosgei said the proposed redundancies should be considered alongside the university’s overall staffing requirements. He questioned the decision to remove permanent lecturers while some departments continue to depend on part-time staff. Kosgei noted that university lecturers have responsibilities that extend beyond classroom teaching. They supervise students, conduct research, participate in examinations, mentor learners and contribute to the development of academic programmes. He warned that replacing experienced permanent staff with temporary or part-time lecturers could affect academic continuity and result in the loss of institutional experience. The union is also concerned that reducing the workforce could increase workloads for lecturers who remain at the university. Dr Jane Michael, a UASU national trustee, called for closer examination of Moi University’s finances and management decisions before permanent employees are sent home. The union wants the government and university management to establish whether alternatives to redundancy have been fully explored. These alternatives could include reducing unnecessary expenditure, improving financial controls, redeploying staff and implementing other cost-saving measures. UASU maintains that job losses should not be the first response to the university’s financial challenges. The lecturers have also raised questions about whether the proposed staff reductions are compatible with the university's academic workload. UASU argues that adequate numbers of permanent lecturers are required to handle teaching, marking, examinations, research and student supervision. The union fears that further staff reductions could place additional pressure on existing lecturers and ultimately affect the quality and timeliness of academic services. Postgraduate students could also be affected if there are fewer lecturers available to supervise research projects and theses. UASU officials have specifically questioned staffing levels in the School of Law. The union argues that some academic units require additional expertise and leadership rather than reductions in their permanent workforce. UASU wants the university to conduct a detailed assessment of staffing needs in every school and department before proceeding with redundancies. The assessment, according to the union, should compare academic workloads and student numbers with the number of available lecturers. The dispute has also brought attention to the age profile of the university's academic workforce. UASU says Moi University needs a deliberate succession plan to prepare for the retirement of older lecturers and ensure that younger academics are recruited and mentored. The union argues that strategic recruitment would provide continuity in teaching and research while helping the university develop the next generation of academic staff. It says simply reducing the existing workforce could create future staffing challenges rather than solve them. UASU has also highlighted the wider social consequences of the proposed job losses. The union says affected lecturers have families and financial obligations, including school fees, housing, healthcare and other household expenses. It is therefore urging the university to consider the welfare of the employees and look for ways of addressing financial pressures without unnecessarily eliminating jobs. UASU has given the university seven days to engage in what it describes as genuine consultations over the proposed redundancies. The union insists that decisions affecting academic staff should be discussed with their representatives rather than imposed unilaterally. The deadline has increased pressure on university management to respond to the concerns and determine whether negotiations can prevent the dispute from escalating. The lecturers have warned that they could withdraw their labour if the disagreement is not resolved. Industrial action could disrupt lectures, examinations, marking, research activities and postgraduate supervision. Students are therefore likely to closely monitor developments, particularly those preparing for examinations or completing research projects. UASU has also indicated that it could return to the Employment and Labour Relations Court if negotiations fail. The union is seeking intervention from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Commission for University Education and Federation of Kenya Employers. It wants the institutions to examine Moi University’s finances, staffing structure and the process being used to implement the proposed redundancies. UASU believes government involvement could help prevent the dispute from developing into a prolonged labour conflict that disrupts learning. The latest disagreement comes as Moi University undertakes broader restructuring measures linked to financial challenges and efforts to reduce expenditure. UASU has previously challenged aspects of the redundancy process in court, with the Employment and Labour Relations Court having suspended redundancy notices pending determination of the dispute. The union continues to argue that financial reforms should take into account the university’s academic responsibilities. Students are increasingly concerned about the potential impact of the dispute. A prolonged labour conflict could affect the academic calendar, examinations, marking and supervision of research students. UASU, however, maintains that protecting lecturers’ jobs is also about protecting students. The union argues that experienced permanent lecturers provide continuity and mentorship that are essential to maintaining the quality of university education. The Moi University dispute has also reignited debate over the use of part-time and temporary lecturers in Kenya’s universities. UASU maintains that universities need stable permanent academic teams capable of building long-term teaching, research and mentorship programmes. The union is calling for a sustainable staffing strategy that balances financial realities with the need to maintain quality academic services. Moi University management now faces the challenge of addressing its financial difficulties while responding to concerns from employees and students. UASU is demanding the withdrawal of the redundancy notices, a review of the use of part-time lecturers and meaningful negotiations with affected staff. The union also wants an independent audit before any further redundancy decisions are implemented. With the seven-day consultation period underway, the next response from university management will be critical. The outcome could determine whether the dispute is settled through negotiations or develops into a wider conflict involving industrial action, court proceedings and government intervention. At the centre of the disagreement is a difficult question: Can Moi University reduce its financial burden without weakening the permanent academic workforce needed to support teaching, research and student supervision?. STORY BY JEROTICH KORIR