[2023] KEELRC 2085 (KLR)

[2023] KEELRC 2085 (KLR)

The court found that the claimant was verbally dismissed from employment without notice or being accorded an opportunity to be heard, contrary to the requirements of procedural fairness under Section 41 of the Employment Act. The respondent failed to clearly establish the reason for separation, oscillating between...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEELRC 2085 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Felix Maithya Ndwota; Respondent: Waki Clearing and Forwarding Agents Limited
Court
Employment and Labour Relations Court
Court Station
Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Cause 12 of 2016
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Judgment
Outcome
Claim partly allowed for unfair dismissal and related reliefs; WIBA and medical claims dismissed for want of jurisdiction.
Judges
K Ocharo
Legal Topics
Unfair Termination, Procedural Fairness, Compensation for Dismissal, Work Injury Benefits, Notice Pay, Certificate of Service
Source Language
en
Employment and Labour Unfair Termination Procedural Fairness Compensation for Dismissal Work Injury Benefits Notice Pay Certificate of Service

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 9 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Felix Maithya Ndwota

Applicant

Waki Clearing and Forwarding Agents Limited

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Employment Cause / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the claimant was dismissed from employment by the respondent.
  2. 2 Whether the claimant's termination from employment was unlawful and wrongful.
  3. 3 Whether the claimant is entitled to payment of January and February 2014 salary.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the claimant was verbally dismissed from employment without notice or being accorded an opportunity to be heard, contrary to the requirements of procedural fairness under Section 41 of the Employment Act. The respondent failed to clearly establish the reason for separation, oscillating between desertion and incapacity, and did not provide evidence of investigating incapacity or considering alternatives to dismissal. The respondent also did not discharge its burden under Sections 43 and 45(2) to prove a fair and valid reason for termination. Consequently, the dismissal was both procedurally and substantively unfair. However, the court lacked jurisdiction to enforce the...

Court Disposition

Claim partly allowed for unfair dismissal and related reliefs; WIBA and medical claims dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

Orders

  • Declaration that the dismissal was both procedurally and substantively unfair.
  • Respondent to pay salary in lieu of notice: KES 19,500.