Hundreds of teaching and non-teaching staff at the University of Nairobi (UoN) are staring at job losses following abolishment of major faculties and colleges.
Council chair, Prof Julia Ojiambo, on Friday announced abolishment of five offices of deputy vice chancellors and replaced them with two positions of associate VCs.
The council has also abolished 24 colleges, reducing the number from 35 to 11, and reorganised all functions around faculties to avoid duplication of functions.
Further, Prof Ojiambo said all positions of principals and deputy principals and their roles have been reorganised under new positions of executive and associate deans as part of efforts to direct resources to faculties where teaching and learning take place.
“Abolished offices, merged functions and new functional positions have been aligned to the core mandate of the university,” she said.
The council chair added that in the major reforms, the 14 research institutes including Kavi Institute of Clinical Research, Wangari Mathai Institute (WMI) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), will continue generating knowledge for communities.
Cutting costs
Prof Ojiambo said the structure was informed by the centrality of teaching, research and innovations, as well as the need to avoid duplication of roles and cut costs.
“To keep the boat afloat, administrative support services will be consolidated under various functions and respective professional heads, all reporting to a chief operating officer who directly answers to the vice chancellor,” she said.
VC Stephen Kiama said the new structure will ensure efficiency of the academic function.
So far, more than 100 have lost their jobs as their contracts have not been renewed.
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