Labour Officer Vihiga County v Esau Kevolwe [2016] KEELRC 1444 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR RELATIONS COURT AT KISUMU

CAUSE NO 31 OF 2014

(Before Hon. Lady Justice Maureen Onyango)

LABOUR OFFICER VIHIGA COUNTY................................................CLAIMANT

VERSUS

ESAU KEVOLWE.............................................................................RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT

By Memorandum  of Claim filed in court on 21st February 2014 by the Labour Officer Vihiga County on behalf of Ayub Litunda the Grievant on account of unfair termination of services and failure to pay salary and terminal benefits, the Claimant seeks the following orders;

1.       One month salary in lieu of notice              Shs. 5,218. 00

2.       Annual leave for  two years

(5,218x21:-30x2)                                        Shs. 7,305. 20

3.       Salary for twelve months

1st July 2012 to 30th April, 2013

4,577. 20x10                                                    Shs. 45,772. 20

4.       1st May, 2013 to 30th June, 2013

5,218x2                                                            Shs. 10,436. 00

5.       Salary for  15 days worked in July             Shs.   2,609. 00

________________

Total                     Shs.    71,340. 00

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The RespondentESAU KEVOLWE filed a defence through the firm of Nyanga & Company Advocates denying the  the claim.

The  Case  was   heard  on 19th  November,  2015.  The   Grievant   Ayub  Litunda and

Ms. Winnie Otieno the County labour  officer Vihiga testified on behalf of the Claimant led by Mr. George Abuto the County Labour Officer Kakamega.  The Respondent Mr. Esau  Kevolwe testified on his behalf led by his advocate Mr. Nyanga.

Claimant's case

The Claimant's case is contained in the memorandum of claim and the testimony of  Ayub Litinda and Ms.Winnie Otieno the County Labour Officer Vihiga.

The Claimant's case is that the Grievant  was employed by  the Respondent between 1st January, 2005 and 15th July, 2013,  taking care of animals and working in the shamba.  They agreed on a salary of Shs. 2000 per month which the respondent failed to pay.  He reported a dispute to the labour office and was given a letter to take to the Respondent.  Upon receiving the letter from the labour officer the Respondent terminated  his employment on 15th July, 2015.

It is the grievant's case that during the period he worked for the Respondent he did not  take leave and his employment was terminated on  15th July, 2013 without notice.

The Respondent was summoned to a meeting at the Labour Office on 23rd July, 2013.  At the meeting it was agreed that the Respondent would pay Shs. 40,000 in full and final settlement.  The Respondent however failed to pay and on 22nd August, 2013 he was given another letter of demand tabulating the claim of the Grievant but did not pay.  A notice to prosecute was issued to the Respondent on 6th September, 2013 requiring him  to  deposit the Grievant's  terminal dues at the Labour Office by 16th September, 2013 but he failed to do so prompting the filing of this dispute.

Respondent's case

The Respondent's case is that the Grievant is his nephew whose deceased mother was the Respondent's sister.  The Respondent stated that he lived with the Grievant on and off but the Grievant was never  his employee.  He testified that the Grievant and CW2, Ms. Otieno had  ganged up with  the Respondent's elder brother, who did not get along with the Respondent,  to file this dispute.  He further testified that he visited the Labour Officer in the company of the  Deputy Governor  to ask her to drop the case so  that they could resolve the case at home but she refused.

The Respondent  denied that he terminated the  Grievant's employment  when the Grievant delivered the letter from the labour officer.  He testified that he has never employed any worker in his life.  He denied agreeing to pay Shs. 40,000 to the Grievant at the labour office or owing the Grievant any money.

The issues for determination are whether the Grievant was employed by the Respondent  and if the Claimant is entitled to the  reliefs sought.

In his testimony the Claimant was emphatic that he worked for the Respondent between 1st January, 2005 and 15th July, 2013 but was never paid a salary.  In his defence  filed in court the Respondent denied that on 1st January, 2005 he employed the service of Ayub Litunda as a general worker or at all, denies not paying him any salary or at all denies that the said Ayub Litunda commenced the employment and served the Respondent with loyalty and diligence or at all, until 15th July, 2013 when  the Respondent unfairly terminated the service without notice and refused to pay his salary and terminal dues.  He further  denied the particulars of the dues stated.  He also denied that several letters were written or that he received notice of intention to sue and  put the claimant to strict proof of the said allegations.

In the alternative and without prejudice,  the Respondent avered that Ayub  Litunda is his nephew being the son of his sister and that he has been staying with the Claimant as a son since 1990 after  the marriage between his parents broke down irretrievably.

Further in the alternative and without prejudice the respondent avered that during his stay with Ayub Litunda, he treated him as one of his sons and provided him with all basic needs including eduction until when Ayub Litunda decided to drop out of school in class four.

Further in the alternative and without prejudice  the Respondent avered that if at all the alleged contract of employment was entered between  them  which is denied, the same has been doctored by the Claimant and Ayub Litunda.

The Respondent's version at the hearing was very different from what was pleaded in his defence.  In his testimony he admitted that he was served with  letters from the Labour Office and attended a meeting at the labour office.  He also testified that the Grievant was colluding with his brother with whom he did not see eye to eye, and that he tried to persuade the Labour officer to drop the case.  He did not explain why he had to use the Deputy  Governor to persuade the Labour Officer to drop the case, if not to intimidate her.  He never explained what was to be resolved at home if there was no employment relationship with the Grievant.

Based on all the different versions  given by the Respondent and the discrepancies between what was pleaded and his testimony, I am inclined to believe that the Respondent was not telling the truth.  There can never be more than one  truth.  An employment relationship is a matter proved on a balance of probability and it does not help the case of the Respondent to have so many different versions of the same story.  On the other hand the Grievant's story as corroborated by the labour officer CW2  is consistent

For these reasons I am  persuaded that the Grievant lived with the Respondent and worked for him but the Respondent failed to pay his salary as agreed and hold accordingly.  I am also persuaded that  the Respondent  dismissed the Grievant when he delivered the letter from the labour officer to the Respondent and hold accordingly.

On the remedies the Claimant seeks payment to the Grievant of Shs. 5,218 on account of pay in lieu of notice, Shs. 7,305. 20 for annual leave for two years and salary from July 2012 to June, 2013 at  Shs. 56,208. 20.  There is no claim for all the other years that  the Claimant  worked for the Respondent or for compensation for  the unfair termination of the Grievant's employment.

The foregoing being the case, I award the Grievant the sum of Shs. 71,340. 40 as claimed.

The Respondent will also pay disbursements  incidental to the filing of the claim including filing and service fees  and travelling expenses which I assess at Shs. 20,000 all inclusive.

Judgment dated, signed and delivered this 26th February, 2016

MAUREEN ONYANGO

JUDGE

cause no.31 of 2014