Egerton University Suspends 14 Lecturers For Deserting Duties As Strike Enter Third Month
Egerton University Suspends 14 Lecturers for deserting duties as strike enters third month. The University lecturers and other workers have been on strike since November 2021 after the institution failed to pay their salaries.
14 University Academic Staff Union Officials (UASU) from the institution have now been suspended by the university management over lecturers strike that took effect on November 15, 2021.
The 14 are allegedly suspended for deserting duties paralysing learning in the institution fir more than three months.
In the ongoing strike the students are the most affected. Also the business fraternity around Egerton are counting looses since they have no customers.
The University’s vice chancellor has been on record reitarating the bad financial situation in the institution.
Students have been expressing their much disappointments and are asking the national Government to help and solve the issue.
According to the circular released to lecturers, and the university said that the strike which kicked off on November last year was against the contract signed and therefore it is classified as desertion of duty without lawful authority.
“It has been noted by the university management board that you are taking part in an illegal strike. Additionally you have been absent from duty without authority in contravention of the Labour relations Act 2007 law of Kenya”, part of the circular read.
The letter further stated that the said staff members have been suspended with immediate effect and are therefore called upon to hand over their responsibilities and any university property under their care to the chairman of the department under them and vacate office.
The lecturers have been given a show-cause letter by the management and are given a grace period of one week to defend their actions and why the university should not take a disciplinary action against them.
