[2015] KEELRC 165 (KLR)
The court held that the orders sought by the claimant could not be granted at the interlocutory stage because doing so would require the court to take evidence and would effectively determine the main claim prematurely. Granting such relief would amount to an abuse of the court process. The court emphasized that...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEELRC 165 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Kenya Scientific Research International Technical and Institutions Workers Union; Respondent: TNS Research International
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Cause 1894 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Employment Cause / Ruling on Interlocutory Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the respondent; main suit to be set for hearing on priority basis
- Judges
- L Ndolo
- Legal Topics
- Unlawful Termination, Redundancy, Interlocutory Relief, Employee Rights
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Kenya Scientific Research International Technical and Institutions Workers Union
Applicant
TNS Research International
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Ruling on Interlocutory Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the termination of the grievant's employment was unlawful and should be declared illegal at the interlocutory stage.
- 2 Whether granting the orders sought would amount to determining the main claim prematurely.
- 3 Whether the application constitutes an abuse of court process.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the orders sought by the claimant could not be granted at the interlocutory stage because doing so would require the court to take evidence and would effectively determine the main claim prematurely. Granting such relief would amount to an abuse of the court process. The court emphasized that interlocutory applications are not the proper avenue for resolving substantive disputes that require evidentiary support. As a result, the application was dismissed with costs to the respondent, and the main suit was directed to be set down for hearing on a priority basis.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the respondent; main suit to be set for hearing on priority basis
Orders
- The claimant's application is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
- The main suit is to be listed for hearing on a priority basis.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT NAIROBI
CAUSE NO 1894 OF 2015
KENYA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL
AND INSTITUTIONS WORKERS UNION..................CLAIMANT
VS
TNS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL……...............RESPONDENT
RULING
1. The Claimant's application brought by way of Notice of Motion dated 26th October 2015 seeks orders declaring the Respondent's decision to terminate the employment of Henry Atuke, the grievant herein, illegal. The application, which is supported by the affidavit of Martin J. Oduor is based on the following grounds:
The grievant has a chronic medical condition and is therefore likely to suffer;
The grievant lacks the capacity to raise funds for his medical care;
The grievant will be unable to financially support himself and his family.
2. In the supporting affidavit sworn by Martin J. Oduor on 26th October 2015, it is deponed that the conciliation process did not bear any fruit. Oduor further depones that the grievant's termination on grounds of redundancy was illegal.
3. In a replying affidavit sworn the Respondent's Human Resource Business Partner, Gloria Wanjala on 13th November 2015, it is deponed that from August 2013, the Respondent began having concerns with the way the grievant was discharging his obligations as Field Executive, specifically with the manner in which he was supervising auditors under his direction. Following a disciplinary process, the grievant's employment was terminated effective 26th June 2014. The averrement that the grievant was declared redundant is denied.
4. Wanjala also states that the current application is an abuse of the court process as it seeks to determine the entire suit at the preliminary stage. Moreover in view of the fact that the grievant's employment was terminated over a year ago, there is no urgency in the matter.
5. Having examined the Claimant's application, the Court finds that the orders sought cannot be granted at the interlocutory stage. This is because first, the Court would require to take evidence in support of the prayers sought and second, to grant the orders sought would amount to determining the main claim at the interlocutory stage which is an abuse of the court process.
6. I therefore dismiss the Claimant's application with costs to the Respondent and direct that the main suit be listed for hearing on priority basis.
7. It is so ordered.
DATED SIGNED AND DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT AT NAIROBI THIS 4TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2015
LINNET NDOLO
JUDGE
Appearance:
Mr. Oduor (Union Representative) for the Claimant
Mr. Ondiek for the Respondent