A former employee of Eldoret-based Ineet Millers Limited wants the company to pay him Ksh. 1.3 million as compensation for unfair and wrongful termination of his service.
Chemia Shikutwa, who was a former machine operator for the company, wants the court to compel the firm to pay him the money for terminating his service without any notice or legal justification.
Shikutwa through his lawyer Joseph Oyaro told Justice Maureen Onyango at the Eldoret Labour court that the company failed to follow due process before sending him packing.
The former worker, who had served the company for four years told the presiding Judge that he was employed on February 2014 on a Ksh.10,800 monthly salary.
He told the court that he joined the Kenya Union of Commercial and Food Allied Worker as a member, something that did not please his employer.
This, he said, was the genesis of his bad blood with the company management which started to issue threats and intimidations so as to force him to revoke his membership.
Shikutwa said he was falsely accused of stealing 4 bags of maize, arrested and detained at the Eldoret central police station before he was released without any charges being preferred against him.
He argued that the termination of his employment had caused him and family untold suffering.
But the company in its defense said they dismissed him from service after he was implicated in the theft of the 4 bags of maize.
Through lawyer Henry Kenei, the company argued that Shikutwa was busted alongside two other employees while stealing the maize and arrested before being handed over to the police.
Kenei said suspects including Shikutwa were arraigned in court where they faced the charge of stealing maize and were sentenced to serve one year imprisonment at Eldoret GK prison.
The court heard that the accused persons completed their sentence two months ago.
Justice Onyango adjourned the case for further hearing on October 19.
