KU withholds former VC’s pay

The acting Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina faces contempt of court charges and civil jail for failing to settle immediate former vice chancellor’s terminal benefits. In a court hearing on Thursday, Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Lady Justice Monica Mbaru confirmed that an order compelling Kenyatta University to settle Prof Olive Mugenda’s terminal benefits is still in force.

Justice Mbaru said the mandatory order issued a fortnight ago is not conditional and must be settled as prescribed. The former Vice Chancellor’s Lawyer, Mr James Nyiha, was directed to move the court for contempt of court proceedings if the order is breached. “The orders earlier issued remain in force and the defendants are advised to ensure compliance forthwith,” Justice Mbaru stressed.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court sitting in Nairobi on 29th September 2016 had earlier issued a mandatory order directing Kenyatta University to settle former Vice Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda’s final dues. Mr Nyiha alerted the court at the hearing that the Kenyatta University management had only partially complied with the orders.

The mandatory order compelling the university to settle the dues including Prof Mugenda’s sabbatical leave emoluments arose from the filing of a civil suit on certificate of urgency late last month.

The settlement of the final dues, Justice Mbaru said should be done in line with the exit package earlier approved by the Kenyatta University Council Service Committee, on 17th March 2015 and adopted on 3rd September 2015. Prof Mugenda’s dues approved by the University Council and benchmarked against exit packages advanced by other public universities in recent years has been withheld since she left office six months ago.

Prof Mugenda served Kenyatta University for over 30 years in different capacities. She rose from a lecturer to a full professor and also served as a dean of school, chairman of department, and deputy vice-chancellor before being appointed as vice chancellor from 2006 to 2016.

[crp]