[2018] KEELRC 598 (KLR)
The court found that the substantive reliefs sought by the Petitioners had already been resolved through reinstatement and payment of withheld salaries and allowances. As such, the issue of damages was rendered moot, as the Petitioners were no longer suffering any loss. However, the court recognized that the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELRC 598 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Timothy Kaaria; Applicant: Newton Njeru; Applicant: Patrick Karani; Respondent: County Government of Meru
- Court
- Employment and Labour Relations Court
- Court Station
- Employment and Labour Relations Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Petition 41 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Constitutional Petition / Judgment
- Outcome
- Petitioners awarded costs; no damages granted.
- Judges
- AN Makau
- Legal Topics
- Unfair Labour Practices, Reinstatement, Costs Award, Damages, Fair Administrative Action
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Timothy Kaaria
Applicant
Newton Njeru
Applicant
Patrick Karani
Applicant
County Government of Meru
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Petitioners are entitled to damages for unfair labour practices after reinstatement and settlement of withheld salaries.
- 2 Whether the Petitioners are entitled to costs of the Petition.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the substantive reliefs sought by the Petitioners had already been resolved through reinstatement and payment of withheld salaries and allowances. As such, the issue of damages was rendered moot, as the Petitioners were no longer suffering any loss. However, the court recognized that the Petitioners were compelled to seek judicial redress due to the Respondent's failure to act on their letters and demand, and that it was only the filing of the Petition that prompted resolution. Therefore, while damages were not awarded, the Petitioners were entitled to costs of the Petition as a consequence of having to initiate legal proceedings to secure their rights.
Court Disposition
Petitioners awarded costs; no damages granted.
Orders
- The Petitioners are awarded costs for the Petition.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
18 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR RELATIONS
COURT OF KENYA AT MERU
PETITION NO. 41 OF 2018
(Formerly Nyeri ELRC Petition No. 14 of 2017)
1. TIMOTHY KAARIA
2. NEWTON NJERU
3. PATRICK KARANI...................................PETITIONERS
VERSUS
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MERU......RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. The Petitioners seek redress for the alleged violation of their rights to fair administrative action. The Petition was largely resolved and a consent of sorts entered into and the issue that remained was the costs and damages as the Petitioners had received their settlement. The parties were to file submissions and this was done. In the submissions of the Petitioners, they sought to obtain damages for the unfair labour practices they were subjected to. The Petitioners sought costs as well. The cases of Dennis Moturi Anyoka vKenya Revenue Authority &2 Others [2015] eKLRand Cecilia Karuru Ngaru vBarclays Bank of Kenya &Another [2016] eKLRwere also cited in support of the petition. The Petitioners submitted that costs follow the event and that they should be awarded costs as well as the prayer on damages.
2. The Respondent in its submissions stated that the Petitioners were reinstated and the interdiction lifted in September 2017. TheRespondent submitted that one of the remedies available to the Petitioners is payment and that the payments were made to them therefore there is no need for multiple remedies as are claimed by thePetitioners. The Respondent relied on the cases of D. K. Njagi Marete vTeachers Service Commission [2013] eKLRwhere the courtemphasized proportionality and fairness in evaluating the suitability of employment remedies, andCecilia Karuyu Ngayu vBarclays Bank of Kenya &Another [2016] eKLRfor the consideration of costs. The Respondent submitted that the court has to consider the conduct of the parties, the subject of litigation, the circumstances which led to the institution of the proceedings and so on including the need to promote reconciliation amongst the disputing parties pursuant to Article159(2)(c) of the Constitution.
3. The matter before me was resolved largely by consent of the parties and after the dust settled the parties seek to finalize the matter on account of the issue of costs and damages. In the Petition filed before the court, the reliefs the Petitioners sought were resolved in September 2017 shortly after the Petition was presented to court in August 2017. The issue of damages therefore is moot as the salaries and allowances withheld were settled. I will on the strength of the case of D. K. Njagi Marete vTSC(supra) consider the mitigating factors against an award of damages. The Petitioners were reinstated and therefore are not suffering any loss as we speak. They however had to seek redress from Court as the Respondent did not heed the letters written and even the demand letter issued did not prompt the resolution and it was only the petition before court that encouraged a resolution of the matter. The Petitioners will therefore be entitled to costs for the Petition which I hereby order. In the final analysis the Petitioners are to get costs for the Petition.
It is so ordered.
Dated and delivered at Meru this 8th day of November 2018
Nzioki wa Makau
JUDGE