UNIONS representing workers at Moi University have petitioned vice chancellor Kiplagat Kotut and the university council to ensure the planned workers lay off is done in strict adherence to the law.
The university has more than 3,500 employees, who are members of three unions — the Universities Academic Staff Union, Kenya Universities Staff Union and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Industrial and Allied Workers.
Top officials of the three unions have written to Kotut and the council, saying they expect full involvement and proper consultations to ensure the process is handled with utmost care and due diligence as stipulated in the agreements signed with the unions.
Moi University last week made public the intention to declare redundant some of its permanent and pensionable staff.
This came less than a month after the university sacked 300 contract staff to be followed by 400 more this month.
Kotut has written to the unions representing the staff, informing them of the intention to declare some of them redundant.
“In accordance with the Employment Act and provisions of the CBA agreement with Uasu, we hereby give formal notice of an intention to declare redundancy affecting some of your members,” the VC’s letter to Uasu said.
The letter dated April 2, has also been sent to KUSU and KUDHEIHA. Uasu branch secretary Busolo Wegesa said they received the letter.
This came amid financial challenges at the university, which has been unable to pay salaries.
The institution has more than 800 lecturers, who are members of UASU.
Sources indicate the university plans to lay off at least 1,200 of the permanent staff.
Kotut said the decision has been necessitated by reduction in revenue as a result of drop in student enrolment.
The university, once boasting more than 30,000 students, is now facing a significant decline, with student enrolment dropping below 20,000.
The drop has been attributed to serious financial challenges including more than Sh12 billion debts.
“As a result, we have been compelled to review our operations and adjust the workforce accordingly to ensure sustainability of the university,” the VC said.
He said the employees affected will be entitled to severance pay, salary in lieu of notice, payment of accrued leave days and other benefits.
“Details of employees to be affected, the proposed timelines for the redundancy and the process will be communicated in due course,” Kotut said.
