Moi University top officials sent on leave as new team takes over

The newly appointed Moi University Council has sent Vice Chancellor Isaac Sanga Kosgey, along with deputy vice-chancellors and other top officials on leave as new management takes over.

Council chairman Noah Midamba, speaking at Jogoo House, announced that Kosgey began his eight-month leave last Thursday. In the interim, Prof Kiplagat Kotut from Embu University has been appointed as acting VC.

Additionally, the council has made further changes, sending Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Academic, Research, Extensions and Student Affairs, Isaac Kimengi, on a one-year sabbatical leave. Prof Khaemba Ongeti has taken over the role in an acting capacity.

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The DVC Administration, Planning and Strategy, Henry Kiriamiti, has also proceeded on a one-year sabbatical leave.

The council also announced the suspension of acting Chief Finance Officer Joshua Koech, along with several legal officers, including Chief Legal Officer Petronila Chepkwony.

In a letter dated January 30, 2025, Prof Midamba noted that Prof Kosgey had not taken leave for years, accumulating eight months of leave days.

The council also clarified that the unspent leave days cannot be converted into cash.

Financial constraints

Midamba further noted that with the university facing financial constraints, the accumulated staff leave days were attracting audit queries.

“It has come to the notice of the University Council that you have accumulated a substantial number of leave days equivalent to eight months. 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 the staff’s 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.

The letter was copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala, who inaugurated the new Moi University Council on January 22, 2025, tasking the five-member team with reviving the institution.

The CS emphasized that the new council is expected to restore order and ensure the university’s smooth operation “after months of instability due to governance and leadership issues that threatened to plunge the institution into despondency.”

He expressed the government’s strong trust in the leadership and expertise of the new council members but cautioned that their task ahead would not be a bed of roses.

“We have taken the bold and decisive step to cut short the term of the former council. With this new team, I do not doubt that Moi University will break from the past and look to the future with much and more confidence in the pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, teaching and community service,” Ogamba stated.

Laxity at work

The other members of the newly appointed Midamba-led council include Ronald Wasike, Mercy Nyambura, Edward Sambili and Anne Makori, who were appointed in a gazette notice dated January 17 to lead the institution for a period of three years.

The gazette notice also revoked the appointments of former chair Dr Humphrey Njoroge and council members Prof Clara Momanyi, Christopher Khaemba, Eusila Ngeny, and Susan Aletia.

The CS further warned that the government would no longer tolerate laxity in public university management and would enforce strict oversight.

Additionally, he vowed that the university will make the staff welfare a priority pointing out the importance of a positive working environment and competitive compensation so as to enhance staff motivation and engagement.

The leadership changes come amid a deepening financial crisis at Moi University, where Prof Kosgey and three senior university officials are under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over graft allegations involving fraudulent infrastructural projects worth over Sh2 billion.

The financially troubled university has been engulfed with huge debts amounting to more than Sh8 billion which had threatened learning activities with lecturers and non-teaching staff engaging in frequent strikes.

After the inauguration of the new council, the staff confirmed that Moi University paid out Sh500 million in delayed salaries, including Sh400 million for December salaries and another Sh103 million for arrears that had not been cleared since October last year bringing an end to their strike.

On November 30, 2024, CS Ogamba signed a deal with the staff in which the government was set to release Sh8.6 billion for salaries to be paid in phases between 2024/25 and 2027/28 financial years.

The university was also allowed to sell assets to pay off its debts while Sh500 million was allocated for staff financial requirements including paying bank loans, union dues, pensions and welfare services.

Midamba pledged that the new council would begin working immediately to transform the university and restore its reputation as a centre of academic excellence and innovation.