Tension as Moi University law students oppose campus closure

Tension is high at Moi University’s Law School in Eldoret after students refused to leave the institution after it was closed down. Anti-riot police were deployed to the institution and spent the better part of the morning keeping the students at bay after they vowed not to leave until their grievances are addressed.

Trouble has been brewing at the university for the past month, with students complaining they had not been taught for more than four weeks.

“This time we want to send a strong and unequivocal message to our administration that we will not relent nor waver (on) this cause until classes resume normally,” said Mr Eddie Waswa, the vice-chairman of the Moi University Students Organisation.

Mr Waswa said the students would meet on Wednesday at the university’s School of Medicine in Eldoret to mediate between the lecturers and the university administration.

“The administration had promised to give us clear information by this morning only for us to realise that they had sent police to evict the students and for the school to be closed indefinitely,” the student leader said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chris Oketch, from the university’s public relations department, said a comprehensive statement would be issued later Wednesday.

“The senate is meeting and once they are through, we will send a statement regarding the issues at the law school,” Mr Oketch said.

Student leaders had on Tuesday led their colleagues at the university’s main campus in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, in launching a hunger strike demanding that the standoff between the lecturers and university administration be sorted out.

The law students on the university’s Annex campus in Eldoret said they had not been taught since they reported for the semester on March 16.

“Today, we are here to seek answers from the school’s management as to why we have not been attending class in the last one month and why the lecturers have not been paid,” Ms Elizeba Jepleting said during the Tuesday afternoon demonstration.

According to the students, the lecturers are demanding a 35% pay raise but the university administration is offering 27 per cent.

Ms Jepleting added that the management was shifting blame to the lecturers and yet they had not been paid.

According to the student leaders, they were assured by Vice-Chancellor Richard Mibei that classes would resume on April 7, but to date, nothing has been done.

She said it was unfortunate that they had to protest in order for them to learn yet they are paying money for their studies.

On Tuesday evening, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics, Prof Bob Wishitemi, urged the student leaders to give the administration time to consult on the matter without causing chaos.

“The VC will be briefed and the issue will be effected for the best interest of the university. It will be a big shame if these issues are not solved amicably. We plead with the student leaders to give us time to sort out the issues amicably,” Prof Wishitemi said.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke