[2019] KEELRC 2137 (KLR)
The court held that it has no jurisdiction to grant leave or enlarge time for instituting claims arising from employment contracts where the statutory limitation period has lapsed. Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007, provides a strict three-year limitation period for such claims, and established case law...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEELRC 2137 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Fredrick Odhiambo Ayieko; Respondent: Parliamentary Service Commission
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 1613 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to File Suit Out of Time
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- MSA Makhandia
- Legal Topics
- Limitation Periods, Unfair Termination, Jurisdiction of Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Fredrick Odhiambo Ayieko
Applicant
Parliamentary Service Commission
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Leave to File Suit Out of Time
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court has jurisdiction to grant leave to file an employment claim out of time.
- 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to have the memorandum of claim deemed as duly filed despite lapse of limitation period.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that it has no jurisdiction to grant leave or enlarge time for instituting claims arising from employment contracts where the statutory limitation period has lapsed. Section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007, provides a strict three-year limitation period for such claims, and established case law confirms that courts cannot extend this period. As the applicant failed to file his claim within the prescribed time, the court dismissed the application for leave to file out of time.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The motion dated 17 December 2018 is dismissed.
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
26 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT NAIROBI
MISC CAUSE NO. 1613 OF 2018
FREDRICK ODHIAMBO AYIEKO.............................APPLICANT
v
PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE COMMISSION.....RESPONDENT
RULING
1. For determination is a motion dated 17 December 2018 by Fredrick Odhiambo Ayieko (applicant) against the Parliamentary Service Commission (Respondent) seeking orders
1. THAT leave be granted to the applicant to file a suit herein out of time.
2. THAT the filed Memorandum of Claim herein be deemed as duly filed.
3. THAT the costs of this application be in the cause.
2. The Respondent filed grounds of opposition to the application on 18 January 2019 and skeletal submissions and authorities on 13 February 2019.
3. The Court took arguments on 19 February 2019.
4. The applicant was engaged as Constituency Office Manager on 1 April 2013 and was interdicted on 25 August 2014.
5. On 29 September 2014, the applicant was served with a summary dismissal letter. He now seeks the orders set out above.
6. In terms of section 90 of the Employment Act, 2007, the applicant had 3 years within which to commence legal action in respect of any claim for unfair termination of employment. He did not.
7. The law books are now replete with case law to the effect that in cause(s) of action accruing from contract (including employment contract), the Court has no jurisdiction to grant leave or enlarge time for purposes of instituting such claims (see Divecon v Samani (1995 -1998) 1 EA 54, Rift Valley Railways (K) Ltd v Hawkins Wagunza Musonye & Ar(2016) eKLR and Kenya Airports Authority v Shadrack Abraham Kisongochi (2016) eKLR).
8. Without the requisite jurisdiction, the Court declines the invitation by the applicant and dismisses the motion dated 17 December 2018 with no order as to costs.
9. The applicant may wish to consider seeking legal opinion on whether and how Part III of the Limitation of Actions Act may apply to the facts of his case.
Delivered, dated and signed in Nairobi on this 1st day of March 2019.
Radido Stephen
Judge
Appearances
Applicant in person
For Respondent Mr. Wambulwa, Advocate, Parliamentary Service Commission
Court Assistant Lindsey