A section of members of the community around Moi University is up in arms after the institution’s management allegedly sacked 320 casual labourers.
Led by former Tulwet/Chuiyat Member of County Assembly Hillary Mutai, the locals expressed concerns that the latest move is just but the beginning of a planned mass layoff.
In a media briefing in Eldoret City, Mutai, accompanied by some of the affected locals noted that the decision is likely to affect many families.
They called on the new management, led by the acting Vice Chancellor Prof Kiplagat Kotut and Council chairperson Prof Noah Midamba to reconsider the decision.
“These individuals have been the backbone of our community and now their livelihoods have been taken away overnight,” the former MCA said.
According to the locals, the sacking of the casual labourers is part of a wider plan to enable Moi University which has been struggling financially to outsource the services they were offering.
Moi University community threaten to protest
The locals have now issued a 7-day ultimatum for the sacked individuals to be replaced failure to which they will call for a mother-of-all demonstration.
Human Rights activist Kimutai Kirui argued that it was only fair that such menial jobs are left to the local community.
Kirui also hinted at a plan to file a case at the Labor Relations Court to challenge the sacking of over 300 workers.
“We must stop such illegal sackings and the court will be out next stop,” the activist said.
He also claimed some powerful individuals are out to replace the casual labourers with companies they are associated with through the alleged outsourcing of the services.
The locals are now asking the county’s political leaders to intervene and ensure that none of the casual labourers are sacked arbitrarily.
“The university is an economic hub for locals and what worries them is that if this trend continues, in the next one or two years, none of them will be working there,” Kirui said.
Complaints from the Moi University community come at a time when staff have threatened to go back to strike over non-payment of salaries as per the return-to-work agreement.
The university recently offered to provide transport to both teaching and non-teaching staff as they work on resolving the pay delay issue.
