Staff at Egerton University, Njoro campus protested on Thursday, January 12, over a notice of redundancy issued by the institution and which will render them jobless despite a shortage of staff.
According to the notice dated Wednesday, December 21, 2022, the institution was facing difficulties in meeting the full requirements for staff salaries and other forms of compensation and benefits.
The layoffs, the notice noted, will allow the University to better manage its wage bill and deliver its mandate to both employees and customers.
“A notice of redundancy means that we are no longer useful but we don't even have enough staff at the moment.
“Other departments are not able to operate as required because many staff members decided to seek employment elsewhere,” one of the staff members stated.
While showing their concern for the future of the institution, the employees pleaded with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to resolve the matter.
“We are asking the management to let other people take over if they have failed to run the institution."
“We have reached out to the Minister but he has not given any response on the issue,” the staff representative lamented.
Despite the students returning for their sessions, the staff stated that they would down their tools if they did not get any response from the government.
“The University Council on advice has reached a decision to declare staff redundancies across all departments of staff,” the notice signed by deputy Vice Chancellor Richard Mulwa read in part.
Prof Isaac Kibwage, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Egerton University, and eight University Council members were sentenced to one month in jail or a Ksh100,000 fine for contempt of court on Thursday, December 8.
The management had failed to comply with orders issued by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in May 2022, directing the university to pay lecturers 100% of their salaries.
