Court Awards Dennis Itumbi Sh631,000 for Illegal Dismissal from State House

The Employment and Labor Relations Court has awarded digital strategist and blogger Dennis Itumbi Sh631,400 for unlawful dismissal from State House in 2020.

Itumbi had sued the Public Service Commission (PSC), former State House comptroller, former Interior Cabinet Secretary, and former Attorney General seeking compensation for unfair termination of employment.

The court heard that Itumbi was offered the position of Senior Director, Digital, Innovative and Diaspora Communication (Job Group T) for a period of three years effective July 2nd, 2014.

The starting salary was Sh213,640 which was paid up until July 2nd, 2015, before it was increased to Sh232,960 for the period till July 1st, 2016.  Itumbi then received another pay increment on July 1st, 2017, when he started earning Sh254,000.

"The Petitioner avers he accepted the appointment and discharged his duties diligently and fastidiously," read court documents.

He told the court that based on his performance, the former State House comptroller notified him that his contract had been extended by a further six years and his salary rose to Sh302,980 per month. The contract was later renewed on May 15th, 2018, for three years, earning a monthly salary of S315,700. 

But in March 2020, he was informed that his employment had been terminated on account of the abolition of the office following a re-organization of government.

Judge Jacob Gakeri on Thursday ruled that Itumbi’s termination was illegal and awarded him an equivalent of two months’ salary of Sh631,400.

The judge noted that Itumbi was a government employee for five years and eight months and no warning letter or disciplinary was issued prior to the termination.