Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi has been awarded Ksh.631,400 by the employment and labour court for his illegal dismissal from state office in 2020.
In the case ruled by Judge Jacob Gakeri, Itumbi sued the Public Service Commission (PSC), the former State House comptroller, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary and the ex-Attorney general.
He claimed that by a letter dated July 9, 2014 he was offered the position of Senior Director, Digital, Innovative & Diaspora Communication, Job Group T, for a period of 3 years effective July 2, 2014.
The agreed starting salary was Kshs.213,640 which was paid up until July 2, 2015. It was then increased to Kshs.232,960 for the period till July 1, 2016. Another increment came on July 1, 2017, when he started earning Kshs.254,000.
“The Petitioner (Itumbi) avers he accepted the appointment and discharged his duties diligently and fastidiously,” read part of court filings.
Due to his outstanding performance, court papers added that the former State House comptroller notified Itumbi that he had been awarded 6 years increment for approved experience and his salary rose to Kshs.302,980 per month.
Itumbi’s contract would later be renewed on May 15, 2018, for a further period of 3 years and would earn a monthly salary of Kshs.315,700.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Itumbi noted that he was informed that his employment had been terminated “on account of abolition of the office following a re-organization of Government.”
Judge Gakeri therefore, after determination, ruled that the termination was illegal and that he be awarded the equivalent of two (2) months’ salary of Ksh.631,400 (Ksh.315,700 times two).
Judge Gakeri also penned that Itumbi was indeed an employee of the Government for about 5 years and 8 months and had no warning letter or disciplinary issue prior to the termination.
