Egerton VC risks jail for contempt
Egerton University Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage risks arrest over contempt of court charges.
Kibwage and eight other University Council members, including chairperson Dr Hukka Wario, Paul K’Angira, Julius Mutua, Wilson Ronno, Charity Nyaga, John Ondari, Esther Wabuge and Joshua Otieno were to appear in court yesterday.
They were summoned by the Employment and Labour Relations Court Justice David Nderitu after University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Egerton Chapter sued the council for contempt issued on May 30, directing the institution to pay lecturers 100 per cent of their salaries.
University had imposed a 40 per cent pay cut in 2020 as an austerity measure at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that left the institution financially strapped. The ruling for contempt had been scheduled for Monday. Yesterday, Justice Nderitu, while extending the summons to tomorrow, said the court would not relent to take appropriate actions including issuing warrants of arrest.
This is after the court established that the nine were duly served with court summons through the university legal officer, who in turn notified the VC of the matter. According to Nderitu, the absence of the nine in court was purely intentional, adding that the move is tantamount to a second contempt that would not be taken lightly.
“It is clear the respondents have ignored summons to appear in court. The court gives them the last opportunity to appear on Wednesday. Failure to attend, the same shall attract appropriate action,” ruled Nderitu.
