Africa-Press – Kenya. Moi University academic staff are facing yet another challenge before they can resume their duties as the institution’s management has started handing dismissal and suspension letters to all leaders of academic staff unions.
While speaking to the media on Tuesday, Busolo Wegesa, the Chapter Secretary of the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) at Moi University, confirmed this saying it has highly impacted the resumption of academic activities at the university despite reopening.
“Moi University has started handing in dismissal letters. As of now, they have already handed the letter to the leadership of all the university staff unions. All the leaders have been given the notice,” Wegesa stated.
A high-ranking Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) official echoed these remarks adding that the issuance of the letters had fueled staff to fight for their rights aggressively.
“We just want them to pay our loans and all the deductions that they have taken from us. They should pay us, then we will come back to work. A salary is our right so you cannot tell us to get back to work just because you paid our salaries. We haven’t been paid for two months,” she stated.
“They are trying to divide and rule. They are giving suspension letters selectively, feeding us fear. We want to tell the management and the government that this has greatly fueled us to work more.”
Wegesa went on to reveal that despite Members of Parliament directing the University management to discuss terms with the university employees, they did not heed the directive and instead started handing in warning letters before the committee left the premises on Friday, November 6.
This further progressed to suspension letters that have been handed to those holding positions in academic staff unions.
“We believe there is someone who does not want Moi University issues to be discussed so they want to hide them by pushing the employees away,” he stated.
“We already know they are using intimidation tactics to force workers to go to work. How do workers go to work if they have not been paid salaries for two months? How do workers go to work when their loans are in court and their property is being auctioned?”
The new developments could halt academic activities in the institution for even longer, with a potential graduation delay on the cards.
“Graduation will not take place. Until all our issues are resolved, there will be no graduation system. Moi University uses ERP system to produce the graduation list. That ERP system has long been spoilt and we are currently using manual means and those lecturers who are still on strike are supposed to undertake this role,” added Wegesa.
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