Moi University has assured students, parents and staff that it is gradually emerging from the financial crisis that has weighed down the institution for months, saying key reforms are beginning to restore stability.
In a statement issued on Friday, the university said learning has continued uninterrupted despite the financial challenges that have seen it struggle with huge debts, frozen bank accounts and fears that some of its assets could be auctioned.
The institution maintained that it remains fully operational and continues to carry out its core mandate of teaching, research and examination administration.
The message stated that “Moi University would like to assure our students, staff, parents, and members of the public at large in no uncertain terms that the University is operational and is living up to its academic mandate,” the message, which was penned by the university’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut, stated.
The reassurance followed the appearance by the university’s management team before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, during which they provided details of the university’s financial state and efforts being undertaken to bring it back to stability.
It is alleged that the financial problems of the university have been piling up for several years now, hence necessitating government’s intervention to stabilize the institution.
The management said a recovery programme being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education, the University Council and the university administration is already showing encouraging signs.
Among the reforms highlighted are tighter financial controls, enhanced revenue collection, prudent spending and administrative changes aimed at improving efficiency and reducing the institution’s budget deficit.
The university also assured students that the academic calendar has been fully restored, with teaching and learning continuing as scheduled across all campuses.
It added that examinations are proceeding as planned and graduation ceremonies will also be held according to the academic calendar.
The institution further sought to ease concerns among employees, saying staff salaries are now being paid on time as efforts to restore financial stability continue.
The latest assurance follows months of uncertainty over the future of one of Kenya’s oldest public universities.
In April, internal documents revealed that Moi University was facing the possibility of an auction after a court issued a garnishee order freezing its bank accounts in a debt recovery case.
At the time, the university warned that the freeze had severely affected its operations, disrupting access to essential services, delaying salary payments and threatening normal learning activities.
The extent of the institution’s financial burden was further revealed on Thursday when Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Kotut told Members of Parliament that Moi University has accumulated more than Ksh8 billion in debt and over Ksh10 billion in pending bills.
According to the university, most of the liabilities date back to 2014, underscoring the scale of the financial challenges the institution has been working to overcome.
Even as the university acknowledges the difficult journey ahead, its management says the ongoing reforms have laid the foundation for recovery and is optimistic that the institution will regain its financial footing while continuing to serve thousands of students across the country.
