Egerton University has closed its main campus in Njoro, Nakuru indefinitely following a strike by the teaching and non-teaching staff.
In a memo by the Registrar Academic Affairs dated Friday, November 26, the university stated that the institution will remain closed until a solution on the staff return-to-work formula is reached.
According to the memo seen today by educationupdates.co.ke the students were ordered to vacate the university premises by Tuesday, November 30.
The decision to shut down the university was reached after a meeting by the varsity’s Senate held on Thursday, November 25.
”Following the strike by university teaching staff which has disrupted learning in the institution, the Senate at its 533rd meeting held on Thursday, November 25, resolved to close the university with immediate effect until further notice,” the memo read.
The memo also stated that any important updates will be communicated through the university website, social media platforms, and any other convenient means.
The teaching and non-teaching staff downed their tools after a seven-day strike notice over what they termed as sustained and systematic industrial injustices and employer cruelty.
The striking staff withdrew their services and marched to the institution’s administration block where they sought audience with the top leadership.
Egerton UASU chapter chair, Prof Mwaniki Ngari, accused the university’s leadership of sinking the institution into a financial and managerial crisis.
“There has been high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies by a leadership that does not accommodate other people’s divergent opinions. Nobody should have the monopoly of ideas in running public institutions,” he stated.
He further added that the staff and students had a strained relationship with the neighboring community due to the management’s disregard of their interdependence.
