UPDATE Tuesday, June 23: Egerton and Kisii University Vice-Chancellors have been sued by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) for slashing the salaries of its lecturers by 40% against court orders barring the institutions for effecting any pay cuts.
Rose Mwonya - Vice-Chancellor at Egerton, had on May 13, issued a memo notifying a section of its staff that they would only receive 60% of their April 2020 salaries.
According to the memo seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent effects were cited as the reason behind the decision.
"Due to Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the whole country, the university is not able to generate enough funds internally to be able to pay salaries for the month of April 2020.
"This might continue for a while during the pandemic period. The balance of 40% will be paid as soon as funds are available," reads the memo in part.
Vice-Chancellor Rose Mwonya, in the memo, stated that staff members classified as Grade 1-4 would still receive their full salary despite the changes.
However, those classified in Grade 5-19 would only get 60% of their net salaries as per their resolution.
"I appeal to all staff to kindly understand and bear with this situation as we trust and hope that normalcy will soon resume," the memo further reads.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a well-placed source at the institution revealed that staff members have been openly voicing concerns about the management of the university.
The source further disclosed that the April salaries were yet to be disbursed, adding that such delays have been present over the last half-year or so.
His statements were backed by a letter drafted by the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) at Egerton, protesting against the impromptu decision of the University's Management Board.
"This confirms our fears about the gross mismanagement of the university. As unions, we have severally raised the issue of mismanagement of the university with various government organs, including Egerton University Council,
"We now appeal to government and specifically to the parent ministry (Education) to discharge its oversight responsibility to ensure that there is financial probity and accountability on us of taxpayers' money at Egerton University," reads an excerpt from the letter to the press.
"We decry the situation at Egerton University since it has forced the hapless workers to venture out in spite of the government-imposed stay-at-home Covid-19 precautionary measures to make ends meet," UASU stated.
