Employment and Labour Relations Court in Meru has awarded former Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) Vice-Chancellor Prof Japhet Kithinji Magambo Sh 2,134,170 in salary arrears.
Prof Magambo sued the university in 2022 seeking Sh11.2 million payment for sabbatical leave days for nine months, gratuity benefits of Sh168, 751 and an unpaid annual leave of Sh3.6 million.
The university insisted the former VC was paid all his dues and claimed they exceeded his payment by Sh831, 704.
Magambo had worked there since 2010 starting as Principal of then Meru University College.
In August 2014 he was appointed as VC for five years.
He told the court the money he received was contrary to the terms and conditions for a VC but the Attorney General insisted he was paid as a VC.
The university regularised payment in August 2022 using the correct salary of Sh1,244, 503 and added a further Sh831,704 as gratuity during the period of sabbatical leave, after had Magambo left.
In May 2022 the university wrote to Magambo seeking to recover Sh831, 704 for being erroneous payment for gratuity during sabbatical leave.
Though the institution had approved the payment through an internal memo in December 2020, they deducted Sh168, 751 between May and July 2022.
The ex-VC sued and obtained orders to stop the recovery pending the determination of the suit.
Last week Judge Onesmus Makau ruled that the professor was entitled to salary arrears for the period he was on sabbatical leave plus 88 days accumulated.
Makau awarded him Sh129, 847 salary arrears and Sh2, 004, 323 accrued leave days.
