Moi University’s decision to declare 899 teaching and non-teaching staff redundant sparked outrage yesterday from university union leaders.

University Academic Staff Union secretary-general Constantine Wasonga and his Kenya University Staff Union counterpart Charles Mukhwaya condemned the process as flawed and lacking consultation.

The union leaders are demanding that university management explain the criteria used for determining redundancies to ensure fairness.

Wasonga expressed concern about the timing, noting that 13,000 students are scheduled to enrol in September.

“Some departments have been left without teaching staff, while others operate with a skeleton workforce,” Wasonga said.

He highlighted the dismissal of even long-serving lecturers.

“Who is going to teach the learners pursuing their degrees of Education when they report for studies in September? We want the management to withdraw those letters of redundant before the situation gets out of hand,” warned Wasonga.

‘Rejecting dialogue’

Mukhwaya criticised the university for refusing dialogue over the crisis.

He disputed claims of workforce bloat, instead blaming corruption and poor governance for the institution’s problems.

“We are asking the acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Kotut Kiplagat to withdraw those redundant letters he sent to the workers last week or we face them in court until we get justice for hundreds of our members,” stated Mukhwaya.

He questioned the university’s claim of financial constraints while simultaneously planning to open a new branch in Baringo County, vowing: “We shall resort to legal battle to challenge the redundancy. We will not allow you to go scot-free.”