The Moi University Council has sent Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey on an eight-month leave, along with Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) and the head of procurement.
Council chair Noah Midamba, in a letter dated January 30, 2025, noted that Prof. Kosgey had not been taking his leave, accumulating eight months of leave days.
“As you are aware, the university is facing financial constraints, and the continuous accumulation of staff leave days exposes the institution to audit queries,” the letter reads in part.
Midamba emphasized that the leave was necessary for staff well-being and performance.
“Based on the above, the University Council has unanimously resolved in its meeting held today, January 30, 2025, that you proceed on an eight-month leave and utilize all your accumulated leave days with immediate effect,” the letter further stated.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who inaugurated the new Moi University Council on January 22, 2025, tasked the team with reviving the institution.
“The government has taken a deliberate move to restore order and ensure the proper running of the university, which has lost its past glory as a leading institution of higher learning,” Ogamba said. He attributed the university’s struggles to governance issues, which had led to financial and administrative turmoil.
The newly appointed council will be chaired by Midamba, with members Ronald Wasike, Mercy Nyambura Kanyara, Edward Sambili, and Ann Waceke Makori. Their appointment follows a Gazette Notice issued on January 17, 2025, revoking the appointments of former chair Njoroge and council members Sarah Samiji Momanyi, Christopher Khaemba, Eusila Ngenyi, and Susan Amlango Aletia.
“The new appointments take effect from January 17, 2025,” Ogamba said.
Speaking at the council’s inauguration, Ogamba cautioned that steering Moi University back to prominence would not be easy. “You must guide this great university toward excellence, ensuring it fulfills its mandate as an institution of higher learning and contributes to the country’s growth,” he said.
He warned that the government would no longer tolerate laxity in public university management and would enforce strict oversight. “We demand that our university councils ensure good governance and set a clear growth trajectory for these institutions,” he stated.
Ogamba also called for curriculum reforms to align with global economic trends and job market demands. Additionally, he stressed the importance of prioritizing staff welfare to avoid frequent disruptions in university operations.
The leadership changes come amid a deepening financial crisis at Moi University, where Prof. Kosgey and four former council members are under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over corruption allegations.
The university is struggling with debts exceeding Sh10 billion, and the government recently released Sh500 million to pay lecturers and staff who had gone on strike.
Principal Secretary for Higher Education Beatrice Inyangala assured students that the government was committed to resolving the university’s challenges. “With the new council in place, I assure students that the future is bright and their dreams are valid,” she said.
She also affirmed that the council and the government would ensure the full implementation of the return-to-work formula for workers who were on strike for much of the previous year.
Midamba pledged that the new council would begin working immediately to transform the university and restore its reputation as a center of academic excellence and innovation.
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