Kenyans Urged to Use Alternative Justice Methods
Kenyans have been urged to use Alternative Justice methods in solving Labor Cases.
This is in Issues related to wages, labor, and salary have been on the high rise in the Eldoret Labor Court.
This is according to Patrick Kimeli, chairperson of labor and Social Protection in Uasin Gishu County Assembly who was speaking during the Labour Court Ten Year Celebration after the Implementation of the New Constitution.
‘Today, the Employment and Labour Courts are celebrating 11 years since its inception and we Uasin Gishu County Assembly especially the Labour Social Welfare, Gender and Children Committee, the Speaker, and Leadership join hands in celebrating the milestone the Court has made in Kenya, M.C.A.s are employers as well as employees too and do enjoy the good environment provided by the court.,” he said.
He said that Kenya is a progressive democracy and an emerging destination for investors hence the need for a mechanism to settle disputes as when they arise, the Employment and Labour Courts play a major role in building investors’ confidence.
“Large number of claims files at the employment and labor relations court registry by employees reveals the reality of the unevenness in the relationship between employees and employers in Kenya. Unlawful dismissal, unsafe working environment, harassment, and withholding of wages are just but a few of the problems employees are faced with in the hands of unreasonable employers,” Moisbridge Ward MCA added.
Kimeli noted that while a number of employees know and understand their rights, some hardly know the avenues and institutions through which such claims can be pursued.
“In Kenya, employment and labour-related disputes are handled by the Employment and Labour Relations Court. I, therefore, urge all of us to make use of this respected Court to settle disputes,” he said.
“Once again we as the Committee of Labour Social Welfare, Gender and Children in Uasin Gishu County Assembly, all M.C.A.’s and staff congratulate the Court as we celebrate your untiring and unwavering service to us all. We pledge our support when called upon,” he added.
He further urged employers to solve their issues with their employees before coming to the court and also added that the court should create an awareness of the court.
”We encourage more of this where you go to the local areas and do open meetings with the communities so that Kenyans may know where to run to when they have issues with their employers,” Kimeli added
Presiding Judge Justice Maureen Onyango said that all the Labor courts have been holding their celebrations across the Country.
“Today we are marking ten years since the court was established under the New Constitution, other counties had their Celebration done yesterday like in Nairobi, Kakamega, and Many others, and later we will be having a symposium where the chief Justice will be hosting all the Stakeholders,”
Justice Maureen added that the chief justice has prepared a blueprint that aims no Kenyan should go for more than a hundred Kilometres so as to access justice and also to make sure that all cases are concluded within a year.
“Her aim is to make sure access to justice through a social transformation through access to justice and also introduce Alternative Justice System so that all cases should end within a year and Justice Delayed is Justice denied,” she said.
She also acknowledged that they have enough judges in the labor and relation courts.
“The number of judges has increased and if we need more judges we will request for more since now we are twenty –judges in the labor courts , so far we are doing well, and if there is a need we will request for” The judge added.
In addition, she highlighted that most of the cases are Employment cases and more Constitutional issues.
“Most of the issues that are presented in court are Termination of employment where employees feel that they have been unfairly terminated and constitutional issues where employees want to join unions and other issues,” Justice Maureen Concluded
Post Author
