Unilever Tea Kenya Limited v Kenya Plantations & Agricultural Workers’ Union [2021] KEHC 12574 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI

CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION

PETITION NO. 62 OF 2010

CONSOLIDATED WITH PETITION NO. 63 OF 2010 AND

PETITION NO. 64 OF 2010

IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 19(1) 92) AND 93), 20(1) 92)

(3) AND (4), 22(1)(2), 23(1) (3), 24(1)(2), 27(1)(2), 40(1), 41(1), 159(2),

165(3) (b) AND (D) AND (4) AND SECTION 260 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE ALLEGED CONTRAVENTION

OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS UNDER

SECTION 27, 40, AND 41 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA

BETWEEN

UNILEVER TEA KENYA LIMITED..................................PETITIONER

VERSUS

THE KENYA PLANTATIONS & AGRICULTURAL

WORKERS’ UNION.........................................................RESPONDENT

JUDGEMENT

THE PETITION

1. The Petitioner through a Petition dated 14th October, 2010 after the Respondent demanded the immediate ban or withdrawal of its tea harvesting machines; sought the Protection of its rights to mechanise and adopt technology in its operations. The Petition is supported by the Petitioner’s supporting Affidavit sworn on 14th October 2010.

2. From the Petition the substantive orders sought by the Petitioner relate primarily to the protection of the Petitioner’s right to mechanise in its operations as a Constitutional right falling within the purview of Articles 27(1) and (2) and 40(1)(a) (b) of the Constitution. It seeks the protection of its right to property against the Respondent’s demand for the immediate withdrawal and/or ban of he machines.

3. The parties herein urge that following the delivery of the judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting in Nairobi in Civil Appeal No. 189 of 2009 Kenya Plantation & Agricultural Workers Union and James Finlay (K) Limited, Sotik Tea Company Limited and the Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development (Coram: Kiage, M’Inoti & Murgor, J.J.A where the Court held inter alia as follows:-

“It is for the employer to make the commercial and business judgment whether it will adopt technology or not in its operations, subject to following all prescribed procedures should its adoption of technology result in a redundancy situation. In Kenya Airways Corporation v Tobia Oganya Auma & 5 Others [2007] eKLR this court held that it is not the role of the court to prevent an employer form restricting or adopting modern technology in his business, so long as he observes all the relevant regulations. (see also Kenya Airways Ltd v Aviation Workers Union of Kenya & 3 Others [2014] eKLR.

In this appeal we have noted that the adoption of machines by the respondents in their operations did not, and has not resulted in any redundancy. We therefore do not see any legitimate basis upon which the Minister ordered the respondents to withdraw their machines.”

The Petitioner’s Petition was compromised.

4. Miss Onyango learned Counsel for Petitioner and Miss Odour for Respondent appeared before this Court electronically on 24th November 2020. Miss Onyango urged that she had filed her submissions in this matter on 24th November 2020, served the same and now seeks adoption of the decision of the Court of Appeal No. CA 189 of 2009attached to her submissions. Miss Oduor, on her part stated that she was fully associating herself with the Petitioner’s Counsel Submissions.

5. In the attached Court of Appeal Judgment dated 13th July 2018 by Hon. P. O. Kiage, K. M’inoti and A. K. Murgor J.J.A in CA No. 189 of 2009, the Petitioner’s and Respondent’s Counsel with reference to the holding of the Court of Appeal as set out in the judgement, contend and are in agreement, that the issues arising for determination in this petition as regards the Petitioner’s right to make commercial and business judgment on whether to adopt technology in its operations has been settled in the affirmative.

6. In the premises, and in line with the holding of the Court of Appeal in Civil Appl No. 189 of 2009 Kenya Plantation & Agricultural Workers Union and James Finlay (K) Limited, Sotik Tea Company Limited and the Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development (Coram Kiage, M’Inoti & Murgor, J.J.A) the parties have agreed that the issues in this matter relating to the employer’s right to mechanise has already been determined.

7. In view of the aforesaid and as agreed by both Petitioner’s and Respondent’s Counsel, I find as decided in the Court of Appeal decision herein above, the Petitioner has a right to mechanise and adopt technology in its operations. The matter in dispute is therefore effectively concluded and settled in terms hereinabove stated.

Dated, Signed and Delivered at Nairobi on this 28th day of January, 2021.

.........................

J. A. MAKAU

JUDGE