Moi
University has sent home over 900 employees under a redundancy plan due to
financial challenges.
The affected
employees have already received letters declaring them redundant.
Some of the letters
seen by the Star are signed by acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Loyce Maru.
“Following
review of the university’s operational needs and financial sustainability, your
position has been identified as one of those affected by the redundancy process,”
says part of the letter sent to the affected workers.
The
university says letters serve as notice of termination of employment and will
take effect 30 days from the date of issue.
“You will be
entitled to receive all your terminal benefits in line with the Employment Act
of 2007 and the relevant CBA,” says the letter.
Those
affected are 372 unionisable members of KUDHEIHA, 380 members of the Kenya
Universities Staff Union (KUSU) and 120 lecturers who are members of UASU.
UASU has
opposed the move, terming it illegal and unprocedural.
Deputy UASU
Secretary for the Moi University Chapter Nyabuta Ojuki says they have already
moved to court to stop the exercise.
“The
redundancies are illegal because the university has not followed laid down
procedures in the law,” said Ojuki.
KUDHEIHA and
KUSU said they would also move to court.
But in the
redundancy letters, the university says it was acting in compliance with Section
40 of the Employment Act 2007 and relevant CBAs.
The university
says all dues for affected workers will be channelled to their bank accounts, but
no date has been given for the payments.
“We kindly
request that you return any university property in your possession by your last
working day to facilitate a seamless clearance process as stipulated in your
employment contract,” says the letter sent out to the workers.
The
university is facing a financial crisis, including debts amounting to over Sh10
billion.
