[2016] KEELRC 8 (KLR)

[2016] KEELRC 8 (KLR)

The court found that the claimants were engaged on successive 3-month fixed-term contracts, which are lawful under the Employment Act. There was no evidence of illegality, fraud, or misrepresentation in the issuance or renewal of these contracts. The respondent acted within the law by maintaining the claimants on...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2016] KEELRC 8 (KLR)
Parties
Claimant: Obware Georgiadis Ochieng, George Ngugi Ndungu, Simon Muchemi Mbuthia, Samuel Ndegwa Muthoni, Stephen Gaita Mutabari (on their behalf and on behalf of 56 other employees); Respondent: Kenya Wildlife Service
Court
Employment and Labour Relations Court
Court Station
Employment and Labour Relations Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Cause 796 of 2013
Procedural Posture
Employment Cause / Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed except as to payment of terminal dues as offered by the respondent.
Legal Topics
Fixed Term Contracts, Casual Employment, Minimum Wage, Statutory Deductions, Discrimination in Employment, Terminal Dues
Source Language
en
Employment and Labour Fixed Term Contracts Casual Employment Minimum Wage Statutory Deductions Discrimination in Employment Terminal Dues

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Parties

Obware Georgiadis Ochieng, George Ngugi Ndungu, Simon Muchemi Mbuthia, Samuel Ndegwa Muthoni, Stephen Gaita Mutabari (on their behalf and on behalf of 56 other employees)

Claimant

Kenya Wildlife Service

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Employment Cause / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the claimants' employment status entitled them to permanent and pensionable terms.
  2. 2 Whether the respondent violated the claimants' constitutional and statutory rights, including fair labour practices and non-discrimination.
  3. 3 Whether the claimants are entitled to the remedies sought, including confirmation of employment, payment of arrears, allowances, and terminal dues.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the claimants were engaged on successive 3-month fixed-term contracts, which are lawful under the Employment Act. There was no evidence of illegality, fraud, or misrepresentation in the issuance or renewal of these contracts. The respondent acted within the law by maintaining the claimants on fixed-term contracts due to operational and budgetary constraints, and the claimants' refusal to sign further contracts did not entitle them to permanent employment. The claim of discrimination failed as the claimants were not similarly situated to permanent employees, and the differential treatment was justified by the nature of their contracts and funding arrangements. Claims...

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed except as to payment of terminal dues as offered by the respondent.

Orders

  • The respondent shall pay terminal dues to the listed claimants as specified in the judgment, including notice pay, leave days due, severance/service pay, and arrears based on the minimum wage increase for 2016.
  • Claimants who have retired, resigned, or otherwise left employment shall be paid their dues if not already settled.