[2016] KEELRC 652 (KLR)
The court found that the Claimant's suit was filed more than six years after the alleged termination of employment, far outside the three-year limitation period prescribed by Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007. The court reaffirmed that it lacks jurisdiction to extend the limitation period for claims under the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEELRC 652 (KLR)
- Parties
- Claimant: Benson Mokami Masenkenye; Respondent: Equity Bank Limited Kenya
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 1607 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Employment Cause / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
- Outcome
- claim struck out as statute barred
- Judges
- L Ndolo
- Legal Topics
- Limitation Periods, Unlawful Termination, Jurisdiction of Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Benson Mokami Masenkenye
Claimant
Equity Bank Limited Kenya
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Ruling on Preliminary Objection
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the claim is time barred under Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007.
- 2 Whether the court has jurisdiction to entertain a claim filed outside the statutory limitation period.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Claimant's suit was filed more than six years after the alleged termination of employment, far outside the three-year limitation period prescribed by Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007. The court reaffirmed that it lacks jurisdiction to extend the limitation period for claims under the Act, as established in prior case law. Consequently, the claim was struck out for being statute barred.
Court Disposition
claim struck out as statute barred
Orders
- The claim is struck out for being time barred under Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007.
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NO 1607 OF 2015
BENSON MOKAMI MASENKENYE.…………...…………..CLAIMANT
VERSUS
EQUITY BANK LIMITED KENYA…….............…..…….RESPONDENT
RULING
1. This ruling relates to a Preliminary Objection raised by the Respondent by notice dated 5th October 2015. The objection is based on the ground that the claim is time barred under Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007.
2. When Counsels for the parties appeared before me on 18th July 2016, they agreed to dispense with the objection by way of written submissions.
3. In the submissions filed on behalf of the Claimant on 5th August 2016, it is submitted that the claim herein is somewhat unique because the Claimant has been on prolonged suspension and there has been no communication on termination of his employment.
4. The Respondent’s Preliminary Objection is premised on Section 90 of the
Employment Act which states as follows:
90. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(1) of the Limitation of Actions Act, no civil action or proceedings based or arising out of this Act or a contract of service in general shall lie or be instituted unless it is commenced within three years next after the act, neglect or default complained or in the case of continuing injury or damage within twelve months next after the cessation thereof.
5. The Claimant states that because he has received no communication on the termination of his employment then his claim cannot be said to be statute barred. This would beg the question as to what brought the Claimant to Court in the first place.
6. In his Statement of Claim dated 9th September 2015 and filed in Court on 11th September 2015, the Claimant seeks relief for unlawful termination of employment. It would appear therefore that by the time of filing suit, the Claimant had notice that his employment had been terminated as far back as February 2009.
7. This Court (variously constituted) has held that it has no jurisdiction to extend time for filing of claims falling under the Employment Act, 2007 (see Maria Machocho v Total Kenya Limited [2013] eKLRandGeorge Hiram Ndirangu v Equity Bank [2015] eKLR.)
8. In line with this jurisprudence, the Claimant’s claim filed on 11th September 2015 is way out of the limitation period and the Court has no jurisdiction to entertain it.
9. I therefore strike out the said claim with no order for costs.
10. Orders accordingly.
DATED SIGNED AND DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT AT NAIROBI THIS 23RDDAY OF SEPTEMBER 2016
LINNET NDOLO
JUDGE
Appearance:
Mr. Tollo for the Claimant
Ms. Zeina for the Respondent