Court reinstate embattled Prof Mwonya as Egerton VC

A Nakuru court has ordered the reinstatement of the embattled Egerton University Vice-Chancellor Prof Rose Awuor Mwonya.

The court orders come exactly a week after the financially-troubled institution replaced Prof Mwonya with Prof Isaac Kibwage who was appointed in an acting capacity.

Prof Mwonya is set to officially retire on January 12, 2021, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Prof Mwonya moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court to seek a judicial review following the University Council's deceision.

In her ruling, Justice Hellen Wasilwa ordered that the matter be heard inter partes on December 10, 2020.

She also suspended the decision by the University Council to replace Prof Mwonya's with Prof Kibwage.

Court intervention

"Pending hearing of this application inter partes the honourable court is pleased to issue interim orders suspending the respondent's decision dated November 13, 2020, that purports to send the ex parte applicant on leave with directions to hand over her role as Vice-Chancellor to Prof Isaac Kibwage, in its entirety," Justice Wasilwa's order, which was issued on Monday, reads in part.

This is the second time Prof Mwonya is seeking court intervention after being forced out of office. 

On September 11, 2018, the University Council suspended her on allegations of corruptions.

Prof Mwonya was sent on a 90 days compulsory leave but the court later directed that she resumes her position as the VC.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court sitting in Nakuru reinstated Prof Mwonya in office after it cleared her of any allegations of corruption.