Tension and anxiety gripped the financially-crippled Moi University as hundreds of employees, among them lecturers, received redundancy letters. The university has written to the affected workers indicating that the letters issued to them serve as notice of termination of their employment.

“Following review of the University’s operational needs and financial sustainability, your position has been identified as one of those affected by the redundancy process,” reads part of the letter sent to the affected employees by Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Loyce Maru.

On Tuesday, the University Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut, in an internal memo addressed to the staff, informed them of the conclusion of the redundancy exercise.

“The staff right-sizing exercise at Moi University has now been concluded after extensive consultations with various stakeholders,” said the Acting VC.

Prof Kotut asked the affected staff to collect their retention or redundancy notification letters between Wednesday May 14 and Friday May 23.

UASU branch officials led by chapter Organising Secretary Nyabuta Ojuki confirmed the move by the university, which he opposed, and termed illegal and unprocedural.

The union has consequently moved to court seeking to have the university restrained and censured from laying off the aggrieved workers.

Last month, the university issued a notice of intention to declare redundancy to its teaching and non-teaching staff weeks after sacking more than 300 employees on contracts citing financial constraints.

The Acting VCP indicated that the decision was necessitated by a reduction of revenue due to decline in student numbers and a need to align the human resources to the existing workload.

Prof Kotut claimed that the dwindling student numbers has created a difficult operating environment making it a challenge for the university to meet its financial obligations including payment of employee emoluments.