Egerton University has announced plans to lay off its staff as a cost-cutting measure amidst a financial crisis.
The university issued the redundancy notice in a memo dated December 21 saying the decision was arrived at on the University Council's advice.
"Following the difficulties the university has undergone in meeting the full requirements for the staff salaries and other emoluments and benefits, the University Council on advice has reached a decision to declare staff redundancies across all cadres of staff in a bid to manage the wage bill and bring efficiency in delivering the University's mandate to its employees and customers."
The memo dispatched by the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration and Planning Prof Richard Mulwa said the firing process will be conducted fairly and in accordance with labour laws.
The impending mass sackings come barely a week after Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage and his 8-member university council were handed a 30-day jail term for contempt of court with an alternative of Sh100,000 fine.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru found the nine senior university officials guilty of defying court orders directing them to produce evidence that the institution’s finances were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The verdict followed a case that was filed by Egerton University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Chapter after the university imposed a 40 per cent pay cut in 2020.
The nine failed to implement a court order directing them to pay the lecturers a hundred per cent of their salaries.
“The pay cut was a breach of the rights of the dons and a violation of the constitution on fair labour practices,” Justice David Nderitu said while delivering his judgment on December 7.
