The court has ordered Starehe Girls Centre to pay its former employee Sh0.8 million for wrongful termination of her job over lost donor funds.
Justice James Rika of the High Court in Nairobi directed Starehe Girls Centre to pay Regina Mitheu Sh811,383 for sacking her after she was falsely accused of stealing the school's funds.
The judge said the school failed to justify the valid reasons for terminating Mitheu's contract in 2015. "The Respondent (Board of Trustees, Stare Girls Centre) shall pay to the Claimant (Mitheu) the equivalent of nine months' gross salary in compensation for unfair termination at Sh336,996, gratuity over 9.9 years at Sh370,696, notice at Sh37,444, January 2015 salary at Sh37,444 and 20 days' salary for February 2015, at Sh28,803," said Justice Rika.
The court noted that the reasons given in justifying Mitheu's termination were not tested through an established disciplinary hearing process. Justice Rika said to punish Mitheu in 2015, for allegations that were dealt with through a letter of warning in 2013, would amount to double punishment.
