Milimani law courts. [Photo /kenyayote.com].
The former employees of Kenya bus service have been relieved after the court allowed them to continue pursuing their Ksh 546 million pay from the company.
While giving the judgment at the milimani court, Justice Nelson Abuodha ruled out that the award of Ksh 543 million will remain and any interference of the award will force him appeal the decision of the fellow judge of the same court.
In 2013, the labour courts awarded the money to 732 employees who had filed a suit against two bus companies for wrongfully terminating their contracts before the expiry period.
The two bus companies, Kenya Bus Service Ltd (KBSL), and Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd (KBSML) had challenged the decision saying that the unionized workers, through the transport and allied workers, were seeking to attach their properties so as to get the award. They further argued that the companies were two different entities.
Their arguments were however overturned by Justice James Rika who asked the companies to immediately pay the award to the sacked employees.
The employees had worked in the bus companies as from 1962 under various positions as drivers, conductors, cleaners, mechanics among other jobs. They were however sacked after the company went into financial constraints.
Abuotha futher asked the employees and the bus companies to contest in the court of appeal if they were not satisfied. “The orders made by Justice Rika shall remain in force unless overturned on appeal by the Court of Appeal,” ruled Justice Abuodha.