Nairobi — Retrenched Telkom Kenya staff who worked at its technology college will be paid terminal benefits of Sh160 million.

The MultiMedia University College is negotiating with the relevant government departments to pay the more than 400 laid off staff.

The college, now affiliated to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, was then called Kenya College of Communications Technology.

According to university council chairman Mutahi Kagwe, the college had a staff of 500, but the number was reduced to 88, who were incorporated into the multi-media university and put on its payroll.

"All retrenchees will be paid their dues," Mr Kagwe said. He said almost 100 former employees of the college had reapplied for their jobs and had now been hired by the university.

"When we took over the college, we gave all staff a chance to reapply for both old positions and new positions," Mr Kagwe said.

He said the only remaining issue was the payment of staff retrenched from Telkom Kenya.

"We are talking to our parent ministry and the Treasury and will hopefully finalise the matter before the end of this year," he said.

He said the university was now recruiting academic staff.