[2019] KECA 445 (KLR)

[2019] KECA 445 (KLR)

The Court of Appeal found that the Bank failed to follow the mandatory procedural requirements under sections 41, 43, and 45 of the Employment Act when terminating the respondent's employment. There was no evidence of a follow-up appraisal in 2014 to confirm poor performance, and the respondent was not given an...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] KECA 445 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: National Bank of Kenya; Respondent: Anthony Njue John
Court
Court of Appeal
Court Station
Court of Appeal at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal 117 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal partially allowed; reinstatement affirmed; alternative remedies set aside; each party to bear own costs on appeal.
Judges
RN Nambuye, GK Oenga, S ole Kantai
Legal Topics
Unfair Termination, Reinstatement, Procedural Fairness, Remedies for Wrongful Dismissal, Compensation Awards, Employment Contracts
Source Language
en
Employment and Labour Unfair Termination Reinstatement Procedural Fairness Remedies for Wrongful Dismissal Compensation Awards Employment Contracts

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Parties

National Bank of Kenya

Appellant

Anthony Njue John

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the Bank adopted the correct procedure when terminating the respondent’s employment.
  2. 2 Whether the reason advanced by the Bank for termination of the respondent’s employment was valid.
  3. 3 Whether all the remedies awarded to the respondent by the court lie in law.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal found that the Bank failed to follow the mandatory procedural requirements under sections 41, 43, and 45 of the Employment Act when terminating the respondent's employment. There was no evidence of a follow-up appraisal in 2014 to confirm poor performance, and the respondent was not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations or defend himself. The court affirmed that the trial judge was correct in finding the termination unfair and that reinstatement was the appropriate remedy, given the Bank's procedural lapses. However, the trial court erred in granting both the main and alternative remedies; once reinstatement was granted, alternative monetary awards could...

Court Disposition

Appeal partially allowed; reinstatement affirmed; alternative remedies set aside; each party to bear own costs on appeal.

Orders

  • The order of reinstatement of the respondent to his employment is affirmed.
  • Alternative monetary awards (three years' salary, compensation, etc.) are set aside.