Cash-strapped Egerton University has announced the removal of five courses from its list of academic programs in a bid to remain afloat.
The university further announced that it would lay off more lecturers adding that the institution was no longer able to pay its employees.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage on Thursday, January 18, stated that the Njoro-based public university was overwhelmed with debt and did not have any funds to continue paying its staff.
“Our president spoke about the financial problems of Universities. It is not like we are refusing to pay full salaries, we are unable,” Kibwage stated.
Kibwage added that the financial problems the university was facing were not recent adding that his administration had inherited the bigger part of the debt from the previous administration.
“Our problem is historical and most of the debts the institution is struggling with were inherited,” Kibwage explained.
Addressing the issue of staff payment, the Vice Chancellor explained that employee salaries had not been slashed as earlier claimed by a section of the university employees.
However, Kibwage added the employees would be paid in full when the institution was able to raise enough funds.
"We recognize that our employees have legitimately earned their pay, which is clearly indicated on their payslips as deferred pay. We will pay their money once we have sufficient funding.
“We have not deducted our employee's pay as it is misrepresented," Kibwage clarified.
On Thursday, January 12, the university employees protested over a notice of redundancy that had been issued by the institution stating that the employer already had a shortage of staff.
According to the notice dated Wednesday, December 21, 2022, the institution was facing difficulties in meeting its financial obligations.
“We are asking the management to let other people take over if they have failed to run the institution," the angry staff stated.
