[2018] KEELRC 639 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

CAUSE NO.1601 OF 2013

(Formerly HCCC No. 609 OF 2002 at Nairobi)

1. AGNES W. KINUTHIA 304. TARACICIO GEORGE M

2. ALFRED K. LIPOSHE 305. TERESIAH M. KARIUKI

3. ANDERSON K. WAWERU 306. THOMAS M. MARITHI

4. ARON MATAMBO 307. WAHOME DOUGLAS

5. ALICE ALFPHONE 308. WINNIE W. NGUGI

6. BENEDICK B. MUSINGU 309. WINNIE W. KIONGO

7. BANCY M. NGORU 310. MESHACK TOLE KIRIGHA

8. BENSON K. NDEGWA 311. ALICE NJERI MAINA

9. CECILIA M. GONGERA 312. ALFRED O. KITOYI

10. CHRISTINE V. MUDENDEYI 313. AGNES WAMBUI MBAI

11. DANIEL F. NJENGA 314. A. ROSIO ITHA

12. DANIEL N. GATHUA 315. DAVID O. OSWAR

13. DIANA W. MUCHIRI 316. ELENAN N. KARIUKI

14. DAVID K. GITAU 317. ESTHER NYAMBURA MBIU

15. DAVID N. NGURE 318. ERNEST K. MWANGI

16. DAVID M. NGUGI 319. ESTHER KARIMI M

17. CHRISTOPHER O.WASWA 320. ELIJAH NJROOGE KIMANI

18. ERNEST M. SITETI 321. EDWIN MUSANDU

19. EUNICE NDUTA NJENA 322. EVELYNE W. MACHARIA

20. FANICE M. MBONE 323. FLORENCE ATIENO MUMA

21. FRANCIS K. GIKARU 324. FRANCIS A. OGERO

22. FRANCHIA W. MWANGI 325. FRANCIS MUSYIMI MONI

23. EDWIN W. KIARIE 326. FREDRICK W. MUNGAI

24. EDWARD O. WASIEMBO 327. GRACE W. NJOROGE

25. ELIZABETH K. KATHUMBI 328. GEOFFREY S. NDUNGU

26. GRACE M. KABUNDI 329. GITAU KIARIE GITHOGO

27. GLADAYS JAMES WAHITO 330. HENRY K. NGANGA

28. ITATI NGUGI 331. ISMAEL K. KARANJA

29. IROBI ABDIRAHMAN 332. JULIUS OLALO A

30. JEMIMAH KERUBO 333. JANET A. OJUKU

31. JACINTA W. GICHOMO 334. JAMES MWAURA KAHIU

32. JEMUTAI KIRWA 335. JAMES MUGA OLUTE

33. JOEL OGUTA ORENGE 336. JUDITH G. IKIARA

34. JACKSON A. MIGWI 337. JOYCE GATHONI NJOROGE

35. JOSEPH K. NJUGUNA 338. JULIUS B. RUKWARO

36. JANE AUMA RIAGA 339. JOYCE W. GITONGA

37. JOSEPH W. MUCHIRI 340. JORIM W. ODHAKO

38. KILLIAN J.M. ONYANGO 341. JAMES M. MACHARIA

39. KIMANI GRACE G. 342. JOHN CHEGE NJUGUNA

40. LUCAS O. ONDORO 343. JOYCE N.A. MOMANYI

41. MAINA AMINA WAMBUI 344. J.K. MBULA

42. MARGARET W. CHEGE 345. LEE N. NGANGA

43. MICHAEL O. ODERO 346. LUCY G. MUNGAI

44. MARGARET N. KAMAU 347. LAWRENCE MUNYUA

45. MARAGRET A. ALIWA 348. LEONARD A. ODERA

46. MARY N, KARANJA 349. LEAH WAHITO MAINA

47. MOSES M. MUROKI 350. MWAURA W. NJUGUNA

48. MUCHENE D. KIBUNYI 351. MARY N. NJOROGE

49. NJENGA MARY W. 352. MULWA MARY. K

50. MUCHIRI JOSEPH K 353. MUROKI ROSE NJOKI

51. MERCY W. MUCHENDU 354. MUSOGA W, IVUSA

52. MUNGAI MOSES K 355. MONICAH MUENI DOMINIC

53. NICHODEMUS P. MUNYAO 356. MWAURA SAMUEL

54. NJONGE PETER K. 357. MUNENE ALICE MBUYA

55. PETER ODUOR AREGO 358. MARY WAKOIMBI KIMANI

56. PETERSON K. MUTURI 359. MAINA MACHARIA

57. OCHIENG PATRONILLA 360. OPANGA BARNABAS O

58. REGSON W. WEKESA 361. NYAMINAYA EDWARD

59. RISPER K. BOSIERE 362. NYANGARESI NYAKUNDI

60. SRAH M. MUGANIA 363. NGUGI E. WAMBUI

61. SHEM G. MACHARIA 364. NJUGUNA HANNAH W

62. SUSAN MUTIO KYALILI 365. RAHAB W. NGIGI

63. TABITHA M. KIGONI I366. ROBINSON N. KABANGE

64. WILLIAM OPANY DETER 367. RAGIRA TOERI

65. WANJIKU E. WAWERU 368. STEPHEN WAINAINA

66. WILLIE N. NJOROGE 369. STANLEY W. MWANGI

67. DAVID M. MAGONDU 370. TIMOTHY LIBOYO OTEYO

68. ALICE W. NDEGWA 371. WILSON WAWERU KABU

69. AYUB O. WAMOYI 372. BENARD MWAURA K

70. ALICE M. KAPIMA 373. AGNES W. NGIGI

71. BENJAMIN AWAINO AWUOR 374. AGNES NJERI CHEGE

72. BENINA K. OMWOMO 375. AARON NDAMBOKI WAEMAM

73. CECILIA W. JUSTUS 376. ANN MUCHECHE

74. DEBRAH K. JEREMIAH 377. BEATRICE M. MWAURA

75. DAVID NJOROGE 378. EDWARD N. NYAGA

76. DULA BETTY KATISI 379. ENOS A. AIRO

77. EUNICE NDUTA NJENGA 380. ESTHER W. KABIRU

78. EUNICE NJERI NDERITU 381. ESTHER W. WAMWIRI

79. ELIZABETH W. NJOROGE 382. EVA K. NDAMBUKI

80. FLORENCE MAKUNGU 383. ESTHER NDUTA

81. FREDRICK WANGENYE 384. ESTHER NDUTA GATURU

82. FRANCIS G. KIMANI 385. FREDRICK N. NJOKA

83. FRANCIS M. MWANGI 386. FRANCIS VILIJA MATITI

84. FRANCIS I. NJOROGE 387. FRANCISCA MORAA

85. FIDELIS O. NYABWARI 388. FLORENCE J. AWUOR

86. GRACE WANJIKU K 389. GEORGE A. AUGO

87. GITHAIGA D.M 390. GATERE PETER MWANGI

88. GRACE N. KARANJA 391. GRACE W. GAKUHI

89. GIDRAPH T. KARIUKI 392. GITAU B. MUTHAMI

90. GLADYS GATHONI 393. GEORGE O. OWINO

91. HELLEN W. KIMANI 394. GRACE JUMA

92. IENE W. NGAMAU 395. JAMES M. IRUNGU

93. ISAAC MWANGI KANJA 396. JOHN N. OTIENO

94. KIARIE J. MUNYIRI 397. JOSEPHAT N. KARANJA

95. KIMOTHO LOSIE WANJIKU 398. JAMES B. MWAURA

96. KABABU PETER G 399. JAMES K. KIHAHANYO

97. JAMES M. WANYOIKE 400. MONICAH N. MBICHO

98. JOHN M. MWANGI 401. JAMES MWAMBIGU

99. JANE W. GACHOMBA 402. JOHN M. KALENDO

100. JOHN MARTIN OKOTH 403. JOHN NYANDIKA OROKO

101. JOSEPHINE M. KASUNGI 404. JANE N. MACHARIA

102. JOHN M. KIMANI 405. JOSEPH O. AGALI

103. JANE M. NGUGI 406. JESIKA KATUMIKA

104. JAMES KINUTHIA 407. KARIUKI PETER K

105. JANE K. MBINDA 408. KAREWA A. GITHAKA

106. JOHNSON O. FESTUS 409. KAMUNYA E. MACHARIA

107. JANE NJERI THUMBI 410. KANGETHE D. MWAURA

108. JOSEPH NGUGI 411. MOSES N. NRINA

109. LUCY W. GACHURU 412. MAINA GATHONGO

110. MBURU FLORENCE W. 413. MUHINDI BETH N

111. MARY W. MBUGUA 414. MARY W. MWANGI

112. MACHARIA GEORGE N. 415. MUKUNGA MWANGI

113. MUSA OTINEO OYUSU 416. MAINA SERAH W

114. MARY WNAJIKU IKUMBU 417. MWAURA STANLEY K

115. MARY W. MBUGUA 418. MATHIAS N. WAWERU

116. MARGRET KINAI 419. MARY WANJIKU NGINYA

117. MARGARET WANJIKU 420. MARY WAKOMBI KIMANI

118. MARGRET W. MASAI 421. MARY W. MBUGUA

119. MARY CHEPNGTICH S. 422. MARGARET W. NGUGI

120. MARGARET W. GITHIRI 423. MUGO SAMSON JOHN

121. MWANGIO JACKSON K. 424. MERCY N. NDUNGU

122. MARGRET WAMBUI G 425. MARY W. MUNGURA

123. MARY GACHARU 426. MBUTHIA GRACE W

124. MUNENE WILSON 427. MARY OGOLA

125. MARGARET N. MAWANGI 428. MBOBUANI R. GACHERI

126. MARY W. KARINGA 429. MILKA W. KIONYWE

127. MBUGUA JOHN G. 430. MUNGAI PETE RK

128. MWITA ROSE W. 431. NANCY MUTHON KURIA

129. NGUGI GRACE WAMBUI 432. NGATIA ANTHONY W

130. NGUGI MWAURA 433. NJERI SERAH NJIHIA

131. ODINGA HELLEN A. 434. NJERU GATERE

132. ORACHA E. MUHANJA 435. NGANGA MONICAH W.

133. NGANGA AMOS CHEGE 436. ONKOMBA CHARLES O

134. NZYOKI KATAA 437. PAUL G. NGURU

135. PETER W. CHEGE 438. PAUL NJUGUNA NGANGA

136. PETER W. CHEGE 439. PATRICK MUASYA

137. PAMEAL W. NJERU 440. RUTH MUSIMBI SHIVANJI

138. POSO MARURAN OLE 441. RUTH NJOKI GICHURU

139. RONALD M. THANDE 442. SERAH WANGU NDUNGU

140. ROSE ODOGI 443. STEPHEN W. KAMAU

141. ROBERT MUTHANJI 444. STEPHEN OSINO ODERO

142. ROSE A. NYANGOR 445. SIMON NJOROGE

143. RAGUI RUFUS 446. STEPHEN CHEGE K

144. CLEMENTINA A. RAMOGI 447. STEPHEN NJIHIA

145. SILAS M. GITHINJI 448. RACHAEL KINYANJUI

146. CELINA K. MUSA 449. ROSE LUBANGA AMBUDO

147. SARAH M. MANDU 450. ROSELINE K. KUBITU

148. SIMON O. ODERA 451. ROBERT M. WAIRURI

149. SAMUEL A. APINDO 452. SAMUEL MBURU KIGO

150. SAMUEL NDUNGU 453. ALICE WAITHERA NJUGUNA

151. SARAH WAIRIMU MBUGUA 454. ANITA KANANU

152. SUSAN WANJIRU GITEMA 455. ALICE WANAGU

153. THAIYA FLORENCE W. 456. ANNE W. WAMARI

154. TABITHA WAMBUI 457. GACHINA GIDEON K

155. TUUKUO JOHN L 458. CHARLES K. GITHINJI

156. WAITHERA SERAH 459. DORCAS AWINO PETER

157. WAINAINA SUSAN W. 460. DEVINA A. ODHIAMBO

158. MARY WANJIKU NGANGA 461. DAVID D. IMBUKA

159. AMBASA JOHN I 462. GEORGE W. NJARI

160. ANGALUKI MUDOGA 463. GATHECHAH MARGARET

161. ALICE WAITHERA N 464. GACHATHA MARGARET

162. ATIENO MARY 465. HUDSON MAKIDIAH CHORE

163. ANNE NGINA NJENGA 466. JOYCE W. KIBIKU

164. ANNE WANJIRU KURIA 467. JOHN K. GITUERE

165. ASHA MOHAMMED 468. JAIRO C. KACHILA

166. AMBAI JACKSON 469. JOHN G. WACHURU

167. ALFRED NYAMWEA M 470. JOY KARIMI NKANATHA

168. BARNABAS M. OGEGA 471. JOSPEH M. KINUTHIA

169. BEATRICE W. MUNGAI 472. JULITAH N. WASIOMANGA

170. BEATRICE M. KAYAGA 473. IRUNGU BETH WAMBUI

171. BEATRICE W. NENE 474. LEONARD K. NDUNGU

172. CECIIA NYAGUTHI GITAU 475. MUSUNGU JOSPHAT M

173. CAREN S. ADHIAMBO 476. MUNGAI C. NJUNGE

174. CHARLES KAIRICHI M. 477. SHEM MUDAKA

175. DAVID KAMAU MWANGI 478. JOEL T. M’ITURUKI

176. EDWARD ONGURA PUSIA 479. TITUA MUNYITHIA

177. ELIUD O. OSODO 480. VIRGINIA N. NDUNGU

178. ESTHER WANGARI KARIUKI 481. VINCENT A. AMOLO

179. FRANCIS K. KAMARI 482. WILSON N. NDEKE

180. FELIX H. ANAMI 483. WANJIKU S. MUNGAI

181. FATUMA ALI 484. WANGAI EUNCIE N

182. GEORGE M. WAMANGU 485. WAMBUI GRACE K

183. GATONYE ALICE M. 486. WILFRED M. MWATHI

184. GRACE MATHENGE 487. ANGELINE M. NZIOKA

185. GERALD THUO KANGETHE 488. ABSOLOMON M. IRUNGU

186. GITAU MWANGI 489. ALICE WMABUI CHEGE

187. JOSEPH M. ATOLWA 490. ASHTON M. MWANJALA

188. JOSIAH K. MBUGUA 491. BENSON MAINA NJUGUNA

189. JOTHAM MUMAIMA M. 492. CHRISTOPHER M,. MUTUMBWA

190. JOSPEH N. OSOKHO 493. CALEB ABUNGE

191. JANE N. NJOROGE 494. CHARLES O. NYANGWESO

192. JOY MUTHONI 495. DANIEL MBURU MWAURA

193. JOHN M. NJOROGE 496. ELIZAPHAN NJIRU

194. JOHN O. WAFULA 497. FATUMA HUSSEIN M

195. JACOB ASINDI AGARE 498. JOSEPHAT MUTHUI JUMA

196. JOSEPH A. GICHANA 499. JACKSON K. GADONYA

197. JOHN GACHOKA MAINA 500. JOHN M. MELI

198. JORO GAYO ARERO 501. JOHN M. MWAURA

199. JAMES MWAURA KAHIU 502. JOHN P. MAIGWA

200. JOHN GACHOKA 503. KARIUKI M, MUIRU

201. JANE K. LIFUMBU 504. NJIHIA PETER MBUGUA

203. JOSEPHAT K. WAMUNYI 505. MARY O. OWITI

204. J.M. GITAU 506. MAURICE M. MATERE

205. JOSEPH K. ANARI 507. MARY MUHINDI

206. KINUTHIA JANE WAMBUI 508. POLYCRAP NYANGWE

207. KAMAU GITUKU 509. SIKUKU ANALLETUS OUMA

208. KAGUATHI MARY W 510. STEPHEN M KARIUKI

209. KIBE DANIEL N 511. SOLOMON A. ATABACHI

210. LUCY N. MARURU 512. STEPHEN PARSAOTI

211. LILIAN WANJIKU MUTHEE 513. SIMON N. KIRANGA

212. MBUGUA NANCY W 514. STEPHEN M. NDWALA

213. MORRIS KISILU 515. WAMBUA JULIUS M

214. MICHAEL G. KIMWANA 516. VIRGINIA G. MUGAMBI

215. MARGARET KAIIGI JACOB 517. ODERO YUCABETH A.

216. MICHENE GRACE W 518. ALICE W. NJERI

217. MAKORI ERNEST MOSES 519. ALICE M. NDINGIA

218. MORRIS ODAGO OMOLO 520. AGNES W. GATHUMBI

219. MORRIS M. KIUNA 521. ADUDA MRAY TERA

220. MARGARET W. GAKERE 522. DALMAS O. OCHIENG

221. MARY WANJIKU MUNGU 523. ELIJAH T. NGETICH

222. MARY W. KABUI 524. FIBI MOBNE NDENGA

223. MARY NYAMBURA 525. FRANCIS M. NTHIA

224. MARY W. NGUGI 526. GACHECHE LAM

225. NANCY W. MUNGA 527. JOSEPH MURIGI KIOGE

226. PAULO NDUNGU MUNUKU 528. JOHN O. OBENDA

227. PAUL MURULA ANDEGA 529. JARED G. ODHIAMBO

228. PATRICK N. MBUGUA 530. JOHN NDUNGU

229. PAMELA AOKO OKEYO 531. JOHN K. MIHARI

230. PETER K. MBUTU 532. JOHN NYAGA MWENDWA

231. PETER CHEGE NDUNGU 533. JOSEPHAT AMULENGA

232. PETER N. GICHUI 534. KIMOTHO LOISE WANJIKU

233. PETER K. MWANGI 535. KIMEU KATITHI

234. ROSE A. ONYANGO 536. LEONARD K. NDUNGU

235. RUFUS N. WANGAI 537. MAITHYA MUTUA

236. STEPHEN MUIRURI 538. MARTIN K. KAMAU

237. SEBASTIAN K..E 539. MBOBUA R. GACHERI

238. SUSAN W. MWANGI 540. MUTIA ROSE W

239. SANKAAIRE IBRAHIM N. 541. NANCY G. NJERU

240. SOLOMON INZAHULI 542. NAOMI NJERI

241. STEPEHN K. MWAURA 543. NGENY CHEPCHUMBA

242. SYOKAU MUSYOKA 544. NDORIA ALFRED M

243. THOMAS MULWA 545. PAUL K. MAINA

244. VIOLET M. NYAMBU 546. PHELISTER O. MALENYA

245. ALICE MAHIGA 547. RAPHAEL N. OLWENYI

246. ALICE NYAMBURA 548. SERAH W. NJOROGE

247. AMONDI MARY A 549. STEPHEN NJOROGE

248. ALEX NATSE MSWANYI 550. SAMUEL M. NJOROGE

249. AGNES KAIMBUTHI 551. THOMAS MBUA MWANGI

250. ALEXANDER M. MWARIGHA 552. WILLYKESTER ATIENO

251. BETH MULE 553. WYCLIFFE W. SITINI

252. BRIDGET K. NDUBAI 554. WANJIRU LUCY

253. CATHERINE C. KENDA 555. WILLYEDDDY N. WANJAL

254. ELIZABETH O. AMBUNDO 556. WANYAMA EDITH V

255. ELIZABETH WAMBUI 557. ELIJAH G. ONYANCHA

256. FLORENCE W. MUTHEMBA 558. GEORGE F. WANDERA

257. GITHUA ANTHONY M 559. JEREMIAH M. MINAI

258. GEORGE NJAGI 560. ANYIEKA A. NYAGEYA

259. GILBERT O. ONYANGO 561. DISHON O. SAMBAYA

260. GRACE W. WAMBUGU 562. ELIAS O. BONYO

261. GLADYS MBAIRE MUGO 563. GABRIEL G. MBUGUA

262. HELLEN M. NGUGI 564. JOHN M. UMWAMI

263. HERINE AKINYI ATITIO 565. KAREN A. OUCHO

264. HUMPHREY K. IRERI 566. RACHAEL N. NGIRI

265. JOSEPHINE M. MTURUCHIU 567. LYDIAH JEPKOSGEI

266. JAMES N. MALONZA 568. NGOIZI EUNICE

267. JANE MWENDE 569. ALFRED O. OMIENYO

268. JEREMIAH KUIRA 570. ELIZABETH W. WAINAINA

269. JOHN W. KAMAU 571. GRACE GATHONI KIMANI

270. JOEL MUNYAU KASEMBI 572. KABUNDI KAMANU

271. ISAAC JUMA PESA 573. GATHONI NJAGI

272. KIMANI NGANGA 574. TIMINA MUNGOHE

273. LUCY M. NGARARI 575. AGNES M. GICHUHI

274. LUCY N. NJENGA 576. ELIZABETH WANJIKU W.

275. LAWRENCE K. MWANIA 577. GRACE GAKONYO J

276. MARY WATIRI N 578. GEORGE NJENGA

277. MWARIRI DAMALIS W 579. JEREMIAH N. MBILU

278. MARGARET W. KAMONI 580. ALFRED J. WARINDA

279. MURIUKI WARUI 581. CHRISTOPHER N. SHIBWECHE

280. MARY N. MBUGUA 582. CHANZU SABLON O.

281. MUSANGO MBAI 583. CAROLINE C. RONO

282. ONESMUS K. ADURA 584. EVANS M. BEDI

283. OWUOR MONICA A 585. ELIZABETH NDINDA MUTUA

284. NGUGI ALICE NJERI 586. FRANCIS NJOROGE W

285. NAOMI W. MBURU 587. GISHARU PURITY M

286. NELSON LUSIMBA 587. GISHARU PURITY M

287. NGIGE NANCY M 589. H. GALGALO CHULAN

288. NAOMI NJERI 590. JOHN N. NYENZO

289. PAETER NJUNGO MBUGUA 591. J.M. NZIVO

290. PAMELA A. OULLA 592. JECINTA WAMBUI K.

291. PEER MACHARIA 593. JOSEPH ODERA

292. PETER K. KATANA 594. JORIM O. WAMDHA

293. ROSEMARY W. MBUGUA 595. KANYUIRO K. GATUMUTA

294. ROSE A. OGADO 596. KARANJA DANIEL C

295. RAPHAEL M. KYANUI 597. LYDIAH C. MUSYOKA

296. STEPHEN N. WANGAI 598. MARGARET WATIRI

297. SUSAN W. MWANGOMBE 599. MARGARET M. MUNGA

298. SOLOMON W. MBUGUA 600. MARGARET K. MWANJALA

299. SIMON KANGETHE 601. NYUNGA JOSHUA O.

300. STANLEY N. THUO 602. ONYANO CHARLES J

301. SRA O. KENGWA 603. OGARA NICHOLAS O.

302. SUSAN WAIRIMU 604. PAUL M. MUTHAMI

303. TABITHA A. OKUTE 605. PAUL NDUGO MUNUKU

607. STEPHEN K. NJAU 606. PETER N. CHANGENDA

NDERI MBOGO.......................................................................CLAIMANTS

VERSUS

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI....................................................................RESPONDENT

AND

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SCIENCE

AND TECHNOLOGY…...........................................................…....1ST THIRD PARTY

HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL……..........................................….2ND THIRD PARTY

(Before Hon. Justice Byram Ongaya on Friday 9th November, 2018)

JUDGMENT

The suit was commenced by way of a plaint filed in the High Court on 09. 04. 2002 through Juma Kiplenge & Associates. The plaintiffs (claimants) prayed for judgment against the respondent for:

I. Kshs.279, 940, 364. 00 (being commuting allowance at the rate of Kshs.46, 395. 00 per person Kshs.37, 581, 289. 00; house allowance per grades of the claimants Kshs.29, 985, 550. 00; transport allowance as per grades of the claimant Kshs.25, 661, 924. 00; value of unsupplied uniform between 1989 and March 2001 Kshs.11, 239, 234. 00; overtime allowance from 1990 to March 2001; the balance of the golden handshake Kshs. 134, 024, 940. 00; training allowance Kshs.21, 676, 000. 00; and transport allowance Kshs.1, 692, 000. 00).

II. A declaration that the retrenchment of the plaintiffs induced breach of contract, discriminatory, violated the law, illegal null and void.

III. General damages.

IV. Costs of the suit.

V. Any other or further relief that the Honourable Court may deem it fit and just to grant.

The 608 claimants were listed as parties to the suit and their case as pleaded was as follows:

a) That they were employed by the respondent in various cadres on permanent basis under written contracts of service.

b) By the letter dated 05. 03. 2001 entitled “Notification for Retrenchment” and pursuant to an alleged process of implementing Staff Retrenchment Programme, the respondent without justification or lawful basis illegally and discriminately indentified each of the claimants for retrenchment under the said programme. The claimants and their trade union were not consulted prior to the retrenchment exercise.

c) The respondent terminated the services of each of the claimants effective 31. 03. 2001 without paying to the plaintiffs a total of Kshs.279, 940, 364 as claimed in the present suit.

d) In the budget speech for the fiscal year 2001/2002, the Minister for Finance indicated to Parliament Kshs. 7. 65 billion had been spent on a total of 27, 724 retrenched public servants (20, 526 from civil service; 3204 from public universities; 188 from Catering Levy Trust; 884 from Kenya Revenue Authority; and 3922 from other public bodies.) Further according to the Civil Service Reform Retrenchment Plan 2000 – 2002, about 4882 public universities’ officers had been identified for retrenchment at the cost of Kshs. 1. 2 billion.

e) The underpayment of the claimants’ dues now claimed was due to embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds earmarked for the claimants.

f) The claimants may at later stage apply to make the suit representative for all persons similarly affected by the offending retrenchment.

The respondent filed the defence on 02. 05. 2002 through Kilonzo & Company Advocates. The respondent prayed that the claimants’ suit be dismissed with costs. The reply to defence was filed on 17. 05. 2002. The 2 third parties were enjoined and they filed a defence on 26. 06. 2006 through the Honourable Attorney General and prayed that the suit be dismissed with costs.

The respondent’s case is as follows:

a) The claimants listed in paragraph 2. 1 of the defence are unknown to the respondent as they were not subject of the retrenchment process. The claimants admit that fact and add that they are parties to the suit in so far as they claim arrears, uniform and overtime under the Omolo Okero terms and conditions of service (the mentioned claimants otherwise being normal retirees). The Court finds as much as there is no dispute that some of the claimants had not been retrenched.

b) Some claimants’ names are not properly known to the respondent as listed in paragraph 2. 2 of the defence and the claimants admit that much. The Court finds that the claimants are properly known as listed in the paragraph.

c) The claimants as listed in paragraph 2. 3 of the defence are repeated may be repeated but while admitting, the claimants have stated that for some the names are similar but they are different persons. The Court finds that no evidence has been provided to rebut the respondent’s position and on a balance of probability, the repetitions in the names as pleaded for the respondent is upheld.

d) The respondent admits that on 05. 03. 2001 it issued letters of the same date to some of the claimants titled “Notification for Retrenchment”. The respondent also admits that it carried out and implemented a Staff Retrenchment Programme but denies that the same was without justification or lawful basis. It denies that the retrenchment exercise was illegal or discriminatory and each affected claimant was identified under the prescribed criteria. The claimant’s union, KUDHEIHA was consulted.

e) The retrenchment programme was aimed at improving the financial and administrative performance of the respondent; it focused on the respondent’s important functions and targets; it was to balance recurrent expenditure relative to personal emoluments, payroll and operation; in 1998 the respondent had 6, 600 workers with 3726 being unionisable and Kshs. 1, 850 billion being labour costs relative to a working capital of Kshs.618, 589, 760. 00 so that the labour cost was a serious financial burden relative to the respondent’s working capital; and in the circumstances, retrenchment was a necessity and not a choice of the respondent.

f) Due to overstaffing, financial constraints and related factors the respondent engaged on retrenchment exercise aimed at improving the financial and administrative performance of the defendant; reviewing and restructuring the defendant’s administration to focus on its important functions and targets; retrenching and reorganizing all and any overstaffed positions; and balancing recurrent expenditure. Study had shown that the respondent was overstaffed with more than 2500 employees.

g) The retrenchment was part of the government-wide retrenchment programme. The Government approved a Public Universities Reform Programme (PURP). Civil Service Reform Programme applied to government departments and ministries while the respondent was directed to develop its own similar plans and guidelines for its staff retrenchment.

h) In 1999 under PURF the respondent undertook rationalization of functions and staff rightsizing exercise to identify optimal functions. The respondent says it identified its core functions, policy priorities and strategic objectives; overlapping and duplication of functions and departments; over-manned posts; and about 1,900 members of staff were identified for retrenchment in grades I-IV in the first phase.

i) The claimants were identified for retrenchment in line with the prescribed criteria. There was no discrimination as alleged for the claimants. The prescribed principles of Last-In First-Out (LIFO) and First-In First-Out (FIFO) were strictly applied.

j) The claimants’ union participated in the kick start workshop held on 21. 08. 2002 at Egerton University. The respondent then carried out sensitization workshops at all its levels. A Sensitization Manual on Staff Retrenchment in Public Universities was distributed to all sections of the respondent. Sensitization workshops were carried out for all respondent’s affected staff.

k) The government exchequer financed the retrenchment process and it was carried out in accordance with the labour laws, the University of Nairobi Act and the CBA.

l) The retrenched staff were paid all due statutory and non-statutory payments including severance pay being one month basic salary for each completed year of service Kshs. 57, 722, 694. 75; gratuity at one month basic salary for every year worked on CBA terms Kshs.57, 722, 693. 75; passage of baggage payment per CBA Kshs.1, 465,550. 00; salary in lieu of notice Kshs. 12, 074, 155. 00; off days net pay Kshs. 1, 838, 183. 00; leave days’ payment Kshs.871, 042. 00; overtime payment Kshs.591, 492. 00; non-statutory payment being golden handshake of Kshs.45, 000. 00 per employee. The respondent paid out a total of Kshs.149, 558, 971. 15. The respondent therefore denied the claimants’ claims and prayers. These payments were per the PURP guidelines and not the general Civil Service Retrenchment Programme guidelines because the respondent was bound by PURP guidelines.

The consent order of 16. 04. 2018 was that the suit be determined on the basis of pleadings, documents on record and final submissions for the parties.

The Court has considered the pleadings and the material on record including final submissions filed for the parties. The Court makes findings as follows.

First, the Court returns that the claimants instituted the suit in their individual capacities. They were all listed in the plaint initiating the suit. The Court returns that it was misconceived to be submitted for the respondent that the suit had been an improperly commenced representative suit.

Second, the respondent has submitted that there was misjoinder in view of the many claimants with varying contracts of service to have sued together as co-claimants. In so far as the suit arose out of the same transaction being the retrenchment exercise, the Court returns that the work involved in prosecuting the suit may have been overwhelming but certainly there would be no misjoinder. However, the Court returns that to the extent that persons who had retired normally and not being subject to the retrenchment exercise were named as plaintiffs, the same amounted to misjoinder of parties but the suit appears to have proceeded without the Court being moved for appropriate orders such as striking out such parties and appropriate amendments.

Third, the Court has considered the claims and prayer that the retrenchment amounted to induced breach of contract, was discriminatory, violated law, and was illegal and null and void. As submitted for the respondent, the claimants have not pleaded and provided evidence for the particulars of inducement, alleged breach of contract and discrimination. Further, the Court has perused the plaint and claimants’ final submissions and there is no provision of the Constitution or legislation that is said to have been violated during the retrenchment exercise. The respondent has shown the criteria that were followed to identify the claimants for retrenchment and that sensitization workshops took place to prepare the affected claimants for the retrenchment. The claimants have not provided the names of persons who may have remained in the respondent’s service after the retrenchment and the reasons why such other persons may have been better candidates to be retrenched in priority to the claimants. In such circumstances, the Court considers that on a balance of probability the respondent applied the stipulated criteria of LIFO and FIFO. The Court returns that the respondent has established that the retrenchment was justifiable as pleaded and submitted for the respondent. The claimant’s union was involved throughout and no material breaches of the CBA have been established. Thus, as submitted for the respondent, the claimants have failed to establish the claims and the prayer will be declined together with the related prayer for award of general damages.

Fourth, as submitted for the respondent, the claimants failed to provide evidence and justification for the commuting allowance, house allowance, transport allowance, the value of unsupplied uniforms, and overtime. It was not clear how each of the claimants would become entitled to the claims and it was not clear how the computation had been arrived at. It is submitted that commuting allowance, house allowance and transport allowance were altered per recommendations of the Omollo Okelo Taskforce and the allowances were not fully paid hence the claim. The evidence of whatever was paid and then not paid was not provided. It is submitted that uniforms were not supplied between 1990 to 2001 but the basis of the value of the uniforms and those of the claimants that were entitled remains at large – and in any event, the uniforms and not money was to be provided; so that if the claimants bought their own uniforms and they were seeking refund of the expense, then there might have been some justification but which is not the present claim. In any event no evidence was provided to show existence of the grievance prior to the retrenchment. On overtime it is submitted that the claimants worked overtime but the particulars remain unknown. The Court returns that the prayers will fail as unjustified and not established by way of necessary evidence.

Fifth, the respondent has established that the sensitization workshops took place to prepare the affected staff for the looming retrenchment and there was no prescribed training in that regard. The claimants have not provided evidence that they were to be trained and then paid training allowance for attending such training. The prayer will therefore fail.

Sixth, the respondent has established that under the prevailing policy and guidelines for PURP each retrenched employee in the respondent’s establishment was to be paid Kshs.45, 000. 00 in golden handshake and which was paid. The Court returns that under the PURP guidelines there would therefore be no valid claim as prayed for the claimants and the prayer will fail.

Seventh, the Court has considered all the circumstances of the case including time that has run since the filing of the suit. The Court returns that each party shall bear own costs of the suit towards balancing justice in this matter that has taken many years to be determined by the Court.

In view of the foregoing findings, the Court returns that there would be no need to delve into the issue of the liability of the third parties, if any, because the determination of that issue does not even begin to arise.

In conclusion, judgment is hereby entered for the respondent for dismissal of the suit with orders that each party shall bear own costs of the suit.

Signed, datedanddeliveredin court atNairobithisFriday 9th November, 2018.

BYRAM ONGAYA

JUDGE