Lead image for Moi University to fire 75 senior lecturers as UASU threatens strike.
Moi University is facing a fresh labour crisis after management moved to retrench 75 senior lecturers, including professors, even as it advertises for part-time lecturers to fill teaching positions, prompting the Academic Staff Union of Universities (UASU) to threaten industrial action.
UASU has rejected the redundancy plan announced last week, accusing the cash-strapped university of using financial difficulties to target experienced academics and undermine teaching, research and postgraduate programmes.
The union says the move is contradictory because the university is seeking to shed permanent and pensionable staff while simultaneously recruiting part-time lecturers to undertake what it says is essentially the same work.
“On behalf of the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), Moi University Chapter, we register our strongest displeasure and total rejection of the decision by the University Management to declare 75 of our members redundant while simultaneously advertising for part-time lecturers to fill the same positions. We find serious contradictions in the university management’s notice of redundancy,” said Prof Robert Oduori, the UASU chapter secretary.
The latest dispute comes days after Moi University admitted more than 8,000 first-year students, with UASU arguing that the institution is already operating with a depleted teaching workforce.
In a letter dated August 18, 2026, addressed to UASU, Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut formally communicated the university’s intention to retrench professors, senior lecturers and lecturers.