Management of Retrenchment in Kenyan Public Universities

Abstract

The Management of Retrenchment in Kenyan Public Universities is an investigation of the application of retrenchment as a post reduction <...- measure, how it should be managed, ways of making it effective and what not to do. Since the World Bank sponsored Structural Adjustment Programmes were taken up in the education sub-sector, it became apparent that the Kenyan .public universities will have to operate income/profit generating projects, introduce cost-sharing and shed off excess staff To help in meeting the latter, the study attempts a survey of the current situation in Kenyan public universities and that of the British universities, particularly the University of Salford, during the 1981 -1984 financial reduction period, in an effort to draw out useful lessons and policy recommendations that can be useful to the Kenyan institutions. It is opinionated herein that there is no one best way of introducing and managing change and that the leadership capabilities of those charged with its management are an important factor. Each organisation requires specific treatment and implementation model(s) for the realisation of the desired objectives. In its conclusion, the study suggests that there is need for the reduction of unit cost in Kenyan public universities, the manipulative/variable applicability of the compensation policy, across the board reductions, improvement in conditions pertaining to staff morale and commitment. It / suggests further that the universities should be turned around into learning organisations coupled with .the introduction of HRM as an important factor in providing the environment enabling managers to think strategically.