This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
As the country grapples with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Egerton University has taken drastic measures to mitigate its financial losses. In a memo dated April 2020, Vice Chancellor Rose Mwonya announced that the university would be unable to pay its employees their full salaries for the month.
The institution cited the tough economic times brought about by the coronavirus as the reason for the salary cuts. However, the university assured its employees that the balance would be paid as soon as funds became available.
According to the memo, staff members in grades 1-4 would receive their full net salaries, while those in grades 5-19 would receive 60% of their net salaries, with the remaining 40% to be paid later.
The move is part of a broader trend of salary cuts and unpaid leave affecting employees across the country. Many learning institutions have been forced to adapt to the new normal, offering online classes and reducing fees to cope with the financial strain.
As of March 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta had suspended learning nationwide, with over 1.5 billion learners worldwide affected by the pandemic. Education CS George Magoha has since formed a committee to explore the modalities of reopening schools amidst the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country.
