Lecturers union wants Moi university to rescind the decision to lay off workers, to pave the way for stakeholders meeting.
Universities Academic Staff Union Moi University chapter officials led by chairman Busolo Wekesa said it was wrong for the management to take such action without involving all stakeholders.
He further criticised the Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey led management for ambushing the union members with the redundancy notice.
The official spoke to the media on Wednesday in Eldoret town.
"The university management should understand that declaring redundancy to members of staff comes with its own consequences including compensation to the laid-off workforce," he said.
Uasu chapter chairman Richard Okero said the management had refused to recognise the workers union.
He said more than 2,500 employees were slated for downsizing out of more than 5,000.
"It is unfortunate that the university top management has totally refused to recognise us as representatives of the teaching staff at the institution.
"Whenever they deliberate and come up with a decision on a crucial matter affecting the university, we are never involved," Okero said.
The union leadership was reacting to a redundancy notice issued by Moi University to the workers, through their union.
The move has caused anxiety among teaching and non-teaching staff at the institution.
Kosgey said the redundancy notice was issued to the staff following financial constraints that have been affecting the university for years.
In a memo addressed to the UASU chapter secretary dated July 4, the institution’s VC said the university has been struggling to stay afloat and is unable to sustain its growing wage bill.
“Over the years, the university wage bill has been increasing, currently taking up more than 70 per cent of the capitation from the exchequer,” the memo read.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
