Donors At Multimedia University Not Yet Paid For Up To Five Years

In response to a severe cash shortage that threatens to halt the institution’s operations, Multimedia University of Kenya is requesting that unpaid instructors trade debts of millions of shillings in wage arrears — some dating back as long as five years — for the school fees of their relatives attending the university.

According to The Business Daily, the financially strapped university has an arrangement with some of its professors who are pursuing further education there or who have dependents enrolled there to pay off their salary arrears and outstanding fees.

Even after subtracting past-due fees from arrears, the university sometimes owes professors. In these situations, the institution postpones making up the difference, leaving the teaching staff waiting for more than a year.

The institution, like the rest of public colleges, is having trouble paying for everyday operations due to a sharp decline in students enrolled in concurrent degree programs and delays in National Treasury funding allocations.

“The university comes up with a deal where if you as a lecturer are pursuing a higher qualification here or you have a dependant here, then they net off the salary arrears against the fees you are supposed to pay,” a lecturer told Business Daily.

If they still owe you money after the net-off, they will write you a check, but it will take a while before you receive the funds.