Contempt case: Judge summons Egerton Council for Monday ruling
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has summoned members of the Egerton University Council to appear in court on November 28 for a ruling on contempt of court charges.
The council members risk jail if they are found guilty.
Justice David Nderitu, in his ruling, ordered Vice Chancellor Isaac Kibwage and eight other university council members to be in court following an application filed by the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Egerton Chapter against the officials in August.
“Pursuant to orders issued by Justice David Nderitu, you are hereby summoned to appear in the Employment and Labour Relations Court-Nakuru on November 28, 2022, in open court for a ruling in the case,” read the court summons.
The council members include chairperson Hukka Wario, Paul K’Angira, Julius Mutua, Wilson Ronno, Charity Nyaga, John Ondari, Esther Wabuge and Joshua Otieno.
UASU, Egerton Chapter, sued the council for contempt of orders issued by the court on May 30, directing the university to pay the lecturers a hundred per cent of their salaries.
Pay cut
The university had imposed a 40 per cent pay cut in 2020 to lecturers as an austerity measure at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
UASU obtained orders compelling the university to honour the March 2022 agreement which included payment of salaries withheld for the three months during which they were on strike.
“An order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from further adjustment, reorganisation, or deferring the members’ salaries in such a manner that the monthly gross pay is less than what was the gross pay as of November 31, 2021,” the court ordered.
When the management failed to comply with the May 2022 court orders, UASU filed another application asking the court to find the VC and council members in contempt.
