Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut has strongly defended the institution’s future, saying the university is not collapsing but rather undergoing essential reforms to secure its recovery.
Speaking during the launch of a renewed solar energy project, Prof. Kotut said the administration is making bold, and sometimes painful, decisions to stabilize operations and tackle long-standing issues.
“People who think Moi is dying died a long time ago. We’ve identified the root causes of our problems and are now addressing them,” he said.
Among the major reforms is a controversial retrenchment of 900 staff, a move Kotut described as difficult but necessary. “It was a painful decision, but one we had to make for the long-term stability of the university,” he added.
One of the cornerstones of the university’s turnaround strategy is a shift toward sustainable energy. Moi University has embarked on a second-phase solar power project, part of a broader cost-cutting and modernisation plan. The project, executed by Afriwatt Engineering Ltd at a cost of Ksh 4.2 million, includes a 51.7 kW Solar PV Grid Tie Solution.
Kotut noted that once fully operational, the solar installation is expected to increase the university’s energy savings from 11.12% to 32.3%, while reducing dependence on the national power grid by up to 36.9%. A larger 30MW solar project is also in the pipeline, designed to cut costs and boost sustainability over the long term.
The university has faced years of financial challenges that affected operations and learning, but Kotut assured stakeholders that solutions are being implemented. “We know the problems. Now we’re fixing them — step by step,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving the university’s vision. “We are open to collaboration. We believe that through strategic partnerships, we can get Moi University back on track,” Kotut stated.
While acknowledging that not all changes are easy, Kotut insisted that the end goal is to strengthen the institution. “Even if the steps we’re taking are painful, if they help the university in the long run, then they are worth it,” he said.
In his parting message, Kotut expressed confidence that Moi University is on the path to recovery, urging the public to trust the process.
