Egerton University VC and council members jailed after being found guilty for contempt of court.
The VC ,Prof Isaac Kibwage and his 8 member University Council were on Thursday handed a 30 day jail term for contempt of court with an alternative of a sh 100,000 fine.
Employment and Labour Relations in Nakuru found the team of senior University staff guilty of defying court orders directing them to produce evidence that the institution's finances were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guilt verdict was delivered on Wednesday but ELRC judge Justice David Nderitu delivered the sentence on Thursday.
Judge said the Vice Chancellor and other members of staff namely;Hukka Wario who is the Council Chairperson,Joshua Otieno, Esther Wabuge,Paul K' Angira,Julius Mutua, Wilson Ronno and Charity Nyaga plainly ignored court orders as their reasons for salary deductions.
The case was filed by Egerton University Academic Staff Union (UASU) chapter after the University imposed a 40 percent paycut in my 2020.
The University claimed that the pay cut was an austerity measure to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic without providing audit proof of how the situation had been affected.
The 9 failed to implement a court order directing them to pay the lectures a hundred percent of their salaries.
"The pay cut was a breach of the rights of the dons with a violation of the Constitution on fair labour practices,"said Justice Nderitu.
The Star.
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