The Academic Staff Union of Universities (UASU) in Kenya has rejected Moi University’s plan to fire 75 senior lecturers including professors, APA can report on Thursday.
The union described the university’s plan as “redundancy”, accusing it of using financial difficulties to target experienced academics and undermine teaching, research and postgraduate programs.
It said the move is contradictory because the university is seeking to shed permanent and pensionable staff while simultaneously recruiting part-time lecturers to undertake what it says is essentially the same work.
“On behalf of the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU), we register our strongest displeasure and total rejection of the decision by the University Management to declare 75 of our members redundant while simultaneously advertising for part-time lecturers to fill the same positions,” said the union in a statement.
Moi University admitted more than 8000 first-year students with UASU arguing that the institution is already operating with a depleting teaching workforce.
In a letter addressed to the University, the union cited sharp declines in student enrolment and falling revenues, saying the financial pressures had left the university unable to meet basic operational obligations and its monthly payroll.
“To ensure financial sustainability of the University, a structural realignment and reduction of the workforce has become unavoidable,” stated the union.
The union condemned the redundancy plan as ill-advised, saying it would deepen rather than resolve the university’s financial and operational problems.
MG/as/APA