Court to Hear Lecturers Salary Cut Case in January.
On January 25, 2023, the primary case seeking a determination that the salary cut was unlawful and permanent injunction prohibiting the university administration from reducing compensation will be heard.
A Nakuru court has heard that Egerton University administration has, for the second time, disobeyed court orders from 30 May 2022 instructing them to pay lecturers and other staff their full salaries.
Egerton University Academic Staff Union (UASU) attorney Lawrence Karanja informed Employment and Labour Relations Court Justice David Nderitu that management continues to disobey the directives.
According to Mr. Karanja, even though the court found Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kibwage and eight university council members guilty of contempt of court for ignoring his orders and sentenced them to thirty days in jail, they continue to refuse to pay full salary.
Karanja added further that the university administration purposefully arranged for the November remuneration of teachers to be lower than those of October.
He asked permission to petition the court against the VC and the eight council members’ persistent contempt. Justice Nderitu granted Karanja permission to file the contempt application.
The judge took no action against two council members whom he had ordered to be arrested on December 8, despite the fact that they were absent from court yesterday.
It was explained to him that council member Paul K’angira was absent because he was attending his graduation ceremony, and a paper was presented to substantiate this.
Additionally, the judge was informed that council member John Ondari was missing due to illness. His medical records were made available.
“The explanations for the two council’s absence are taken from the lawyer and the court reluctantly leaves the matter at that for now,” said Justice Nderitu.
The attorney Wilfred Konosi informed the court that the vice-chancellor and eight council members have paid the alternative fine of Sh100,000 each.
However, Justice Nderitu refused the chancellor and council members audience until they resumed paying full wages to lecturers.
“The respondents are ordered to serve this court and other parties with the application for recusal. However, the court bars them from being heard on any issue in this case until they purge the contempt,” Nderitu stated.
Court to Hear Lecturers Salary Cut Case in January.
