Moi University, one of Kenya’s oldest public institutions, has begun laying off staff as it grapples with worsening financial troubles. Hundreds of employees received redundancy letters this week, sparking anger and concern among workers and union leaders.
University officials say the layoffs were unavoidable.
“The university is facing serious financial constraints,” said Prof Loice Maru, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, Planning and Strategy, in a staff memo seen by The Times. “A decision has been made to implement a Right-Sizing Exercise.”
That “right-sizing,” she said, follows a sharp increase in staff numbers—largely a result of previously affiliated campuses being granted charters and returning excess staff to the main campus in Eldoret.
“This has made operations unsustainable,” Prof Maru added.
According to the internal notice, the layoffs have been carried out in line with Kenya’s Employment Act of 2007 and the university’s collective bargaining agreement with staff unions. Affected employees will be entitled to severance packages, including pay in lieu of notice, accrued leave, and other benefits.
Staff were instructed to collect their redundancy letters between 14 and 16 May from designated areas within the university.
But the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) isn’t taking the move lying down.
“We have advised all affected members to submit their employment records,” said a union representative who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We believe the process has not been transparent and we intend to challenge it in court.”
UASU had already filed a lawsuit earlier this year, seeking to stop the university from proceeding with the job cuts. That case is still pending in court.
Moi University, once a flagship institution for higher learning in Kenya, has struggled in recent years. Funding shortfalls, reduced student enrolment, and management controversies have cast a long shadow over its operations. Staff have repeatedly complained about delayed salaries and inadequate resources.
For many employees, the redundancies are not just about job loss—they’re about livelihoods, dignity, and an uncertain future.
“I’ve given more than 20 years to this institution,” said one lecturer who received a letter. “Now I’m being dismissed like an extra line item in a budget.”
The Ministry of Education has yet to comment on the layoffs. Attempts to reach university administration for further clarification were unsuccessful.
As the dispute unfolds, all eyes will now turn to the courts—and to the national government—to see whether a lifeline will be offered to the embattled university and its staff.
