Egerton University Fires Lecturers, Scraps Courses
In an effort to remain stable, Egerton University has announced the removal of five courses from its list of academic programs.
The university announced that it would lay off additional lecturers and that it was unable to pay its staff.
Prof. Isaac Kibwage, the vice-chancellor of the public university in Njoro, announced on Thursday, January 18 that the institution could not continue paying its staff due to its overwhelming debt.
“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 stated that the university’s financial difficulties were not new and that his administration inherited the majority 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.
In addressing the topic of staff payment, the VC clarified that, contrary to what a fraction of university employees had previously asserted, salaries had not been cut.
However, Kibwage emphasized that the employees will be paid in full once the institution had raised sufficient 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, university employees demonstrated against a notice of redundancy given by the institution, which stated that the employer was already experiencing a staffing deficit.
According to a warning dated December 21, 2022, the institution was having trouble 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.
Egerton University Fires Lecturers, Scraps Courses
