[2016] KEELRC 1050 (KLR)
The court found that the claimant had proved his claims for terminal benefits, service pay, house allowance, salary arrears, and underpayments on a balance of probabilities. The respondent, having been served, failed to defend the suit or contest the evidence. The court relied on statutory wage orders and the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEELRC 1050 (KLR)
- Parties
- Claimant: Charles Akiba Okeno; Respondent: Guardforce Security
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 1026 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Employment Cause / Judgement
- Outcome
- judgement for the claimant
- Legal Topics
- Terminal Benefits, Service Pay, House Allowance, Salary Arrears, Underpayment of Wages
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Charles Akiba Okeno
Claimant
Guardforce Security
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Judgement
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the claimant is entitled to terminal benefits as set out in the memorandum of claim.
- 2 Whether the respondent failed to pay lawful dues including service pay, house allowance, salary arrears, and underpayments.
- 3 Whether the claimant's resignation was due to the respondent's failure to pay owed monies.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the claimant had proved his claims for terminal benefits, service pay, house allowance, salary arrears, and underpayments on a balance of probabilities. The respondent, having been served, failed to defend the suit or contest the evidence. The court relied on statutory wage orders and the Employment Act to determine the claimant's entitlements. The court awarded the claimant Kshs 282,786.53, with interest from the date of filing until payment in full, and ordered the respondent to provide a certificate of service and pay costs.
Court Disposition
judgement for the claimant
Orders
- The respondent shall pay the claimant Kshs 282,786.53 with interest at court rates from the date of filing suit until payment in full.
- The respondent shall provide a certificate of service to the claimant within 30 days from the date of judgement.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT OF KENYA
CAUSE NO 1026 OF 2014
CHARLES AKIBA OKENO……………………………CLAIMANT
VERSUS
GUARDFORCESECURITY…………………….……RESPONDENT
JUDGEMENT
The suit was brought vide a statement of claim dated 12th June 2014 and filed on 19th June 2014.
The claimant seeks payment of terminal benefits set out in paragraph 6 (a) to (i) of the memorandum of claim. The reliefs sought include payment of service pay in lieu of leave not taken; house allowance, salary arrears and underpayments for various periods set out therein.
The claimant relies on the memorandum of claim, a statement by the claimant dated 12th June 2014 and annextures CAO-1 and 2 attached to the memorandum of claim. The court is satisfied that the claimant was employed as a night watchman from November 2004 earning a monthly salary of Kshs 5,000 until 19th June 2013 when the claimant voluntarily resigned from the employment of the respondent on account of the respondent’s failure to pay him the money set out under paragraph 6 of the memorandum of claim which was lawfully owed to the claimant by the respondent.
The claim for under payments is supported by the General wage order, Kenya Gazette supplement No.91 dated 26th June 2015 and Legal Notice No 117 of 2015 produced in court by the claimant. The claimant further relies on his oral testimony under oath before court.
The court is satisfied that the respondent was served with the memorandum of claim and summons on 26th July 2014 and the process server Mr Charles Mutua Mwanzi filed return of service on 21st June 2015. The respondent failed to enter appearance nor to file a statement of defense to the claim.
The court has considered the evidence before court and is satisfied that the claims set out under paragraph 6 of the memorandum of claim have been proved by the claimant on a balance of probabilities and the court enters judgement in favour of the claimant for the sum of Kshs 282,786. 53.
The award is payable with interest at court rates from date of filing suit till payment in full.
The respondent is ordered to provide a certificate of service to the claimant within 30 days from date of judgement.
The respondent to pay the costs of the suit.
Dated and delivered at Nairobi this 24th June 2016
MATHEWS N. NDUMA
PRINCIPAL JUDGE