This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
On July 26, 2019, Justice Byram Onganya certified a case filed by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) as extremely urgent, citing the Education Cabinet Secretary's move to close and merge 32 public universities.
The union, which has opposed the proposal in the Budget statement for the 2019/20, argues that the action will occasion mass layoffs and negatively impact students as their population grows in older universities, which are financially strained.
Uasu lawyer Titus Koceyo certified the case as urgent, stating that Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha had initiated the closure and merger move by summoning all the vice-chancellors from the 32 public universities to submit lists.
Justice Onganya directed Mr Koceyo to serve the Uasu pleadings to Prof Magoha and the Attorney-General (AG) to file evidence before August 1 when the case will be heard.
The union has named the Education Cabinet Secretary and the AG as respondents, while the Commission for University Education and Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum of the Federation of Kenya Employers have been named as interested parties.
