This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
On August 30, 2021, the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking the jailing of University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama and eight other senior officials for contempt of court.
The application, certified as urgent, was filed in response to the university's decision to implement restructuring changes announced last month, despite a court order halting the process.
According to the union, Prof Kiama and the institution have unlawfully appointed staff in non-existent positions who have begun issuing directives and memos, yet their occupation of the positions stands suspended by the court.
The union wants Prof Kiama and the other officials, including Prof Julius Ogeng'o, Mr Brian Ouma, and Prof Ephraim Wahome, to be jailed for six months for disobeying the court order issued on July 22.
Others to be cited for contempt are Prof John Mande, Prof Francis Mulaa, Prof Winfred Kamau, Prof Leonidah Kerubo, and Prof Mohamud Jama.
The union is seeking the court to quash all the actions and decisions taken by UoN officials in a bid to implement the proposed changes, which were announced in a memo dated July 14, 2021.
Justice Maureen Onyango had issued a temporary order, barring the university from implementing the changes or forwarding the memo to the CS Ministry of Education or Commission of Higher Education for consideration.
The lecturers' union argued that the proposed changes have no policy framework nor transitional guidelines, a move they argued has caused anxiety, disquiet, and confusion in the university.
The contempt application will be heard on September 26.
