https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelrc/2026/2367

https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelrc/2026/2367

The petition was a stale employment claim disguised as a constitutional petition. The court found no pleaded constitutional violations with precision, held that the claim for terminal benefits arose from contracts of service and was barred by the mandatory limitation period under the Employment Act, and therefore...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2026] KEELRC 2367 (KLR)
Parties
Petitioners: Abdi Debar Andille & 131 others; 1st Respondent: County Government of Garissa; 2nd Respondent: The Attorney-General
Court
Employment and Labour Relations Court
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Constitutional Petition E184 of 2026
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
Outcome
Petition dismissed; preliminary objection by the 1st respondent allowed; each party to bear its own costs.
Judges
["JW Keli"]
Legal Topics
Termination Benefits, Limitation of Actions, Preliminary Objection, Devolution, Liability of Defunct Local Authorities, Constitutional Avoidance, Non Exhaustion of Statutory Procedures
Source Language
en
Employment and Labour Law Constitutional Law Public Law Administrative Law Termination Benefits Limitation of Actions Preliminary Objection Devolution +3 more

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Parties

Abdi Debar Andille & 131 others

Petitioners

County Government of Garissa

1st Respondent

The Attorney-General

2nd Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Ruling on Preliminary Objection

  1. 1 Whether the petition was time-barred under section 90/89 of the Employment Act
  2. 2 Whether the claims were disguised constitutional claims or ordinary employment claims
  3. 3 Whether the petitioners had to first exhaust statutory verification and validation mechanisms for liabilities of defunct local authorities

Ratio Decidendi

The petition was a stale employment claim disguised as a constitutional petition. The court found no pleaded constitutional violations with precision, held that the claim for terminal benefits arose from contracts of service and was barred by the mandatory limitation period under the Employment Act, and therefore dismissed the petition for want of jurisdiction. Having dismissed the petition, the court did not address the objection by the Attorney-General.

Court Disposition

Petition dismissed; preliminary objection by the 1st respondent allowed; each party to bear its own costs.

Orders

  • The Notice of Preliminary Objection dated 29 December 2025 by the 1st respondent is allowed.
  • The petition is dismissed as time-barred and for want of jurisdiction.