This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
Published on May 9, 2020, Egerton University is facing one of its worst financial crises, with staff salaries unpaid for April.
Joint university workers' unions at Egerton University have rejected a proposal by the institution to pay staff half of their April salaries.
According to Vice-Chancellor Prof Rose Mwonya, the university was not planning to reduce staff salaries by half, but rather pay workers based on 70 per cent capitation from the government.
"We wanted to agree with unions to pay them once the 70 per cent capitation comes, we did not discuss anything to cut their salaries by half," said Prof Mwonya.
However, union representatives from University Academic Staff Union, Kenya University Staff Union (Kusu) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers said the institution must pay workers their full April salaries.
"The individual wishing his or her salary cut must give consent," said Kusu National Organising-Secretary Wayaya Ombunya.
He added that as a public institution that is sponsored by the government, the State must intervene to address the cash crunch facing Egerton University.
