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Academic activities have been paralysed in all the Moi University campuses after more than 900 members of academic staff affiliated with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) withdrew their services.

The protesting academic staff has vowed not to resume work until their demands are addressed, key among them frequent salary delays and an unfriendly working environment at the institution.

Led by the UASU Moi University Chapter Chairman Richard Okero, the academic staff accuse the institution’s vice chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey of frustrating all efforts to address their plight and bedevilling non-teaching staff at the university.

He claimed that the VC has been evading them whenever they seek an audience with him with a view to deliberate and discuss issues that were affecting the smooth running of the institutions.

“We have not been paid our two months’ salaries and yet the university management expects us to be in lecture halls to teach students. That will not happen and we have resolved to ground to a halt all academic activities until our concerns are addressed,” stated Okero.

The dons have also resolved not to supervise and mark examinations adding that no amount of intimidation from the institution’s top management will silence them from demanding for their rights.

Earlier on, there was drama at the town campus where the dons had converged for a Kamukunji meeting after the security guards manning the gate threatened to eject them out citing orders from above.

An altercation ensued between the union leaders led by Okero and the guards as the other academic staff members watched the unfolding drama from a distance.

The male guards said they were under firm instruction to keep the town campus out of bounds for the striking lecturers to allow the smooth registration of first-year university students.

“We are under firm instruction from the Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey not to allow you to hold any meeting or demonstration in the compound of the town campus for security reasons,” ordered one of the guards.

But the university lecturers led by Okero dismissed him saying they have a right to hold their meeting at the campus since they are also academic staff of the public institution.

“I have informed the VC about our planned meeting and picketing in the compound of the town campus, so keep off from our venue and concentrate on your security work,” Okero hit back. The academic staff were joined by their colleagues from the University of Eldoret.