This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the country, the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has come out strongly against proposed pay cuts by some public universities.
UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga and Chairman Muga K'Olale have stated that union members will not accept salary reductions during this challenging period.
According to Wasonga, the union has received complaints from members regarding plans by some universities to slash salaries due to claimed lack of funds following the closure of institutions of higher learning.
He emphasized that university administrations should engage with the union before implementing pay cuts, suggesting that they instead seek financial assistance from the National Treasury.
Notably, Egerton University has announced a partial pay cut, with staff in grades One to Four set to receive their full salaries, while those in grades Five to 19 will receive 60% of their net pay, with the balance to be settled once funds become available.
Similarly, Kisii University has implemented a 40% pay cut, citing a deficit of Ksh 56 million.
