A former sales executive at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Kenya has won a landmark court battle against the pharmaceutical giant after the court ruled that he was unfairly dismissed from his position. The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi found that the company wrongfully terminated the employee’s contract without due process, awarding him compensation for wrongful dismissal.
The court heard that the sales executive, identified as John Kamau, had been employed at GSK Kenya for five years before his sudden termination in 2024. According to court documents, Mr. Kamau was dismissed without notice after the company accused him of underperformance, despite his record showing consistent achievement of sales targets.
Unfair Dismissal Confirmed by Court
During the court hearing, Mr. Kamau presented evidence of his strong performance, including recommendation letters from senior managers and proof of meeting quarterly targets. However, in January 2024, he was summoned to a disciplinary hearing without prior notice and subsequently terminated without clear reasons.
In his ruling, Justice David Nderitu declared that GSK failed to adhere to fair labour practices as stipulated under Kenya’s Employment Act. The court emphasized that terminating an employee without following due procedure amounted to unlawful dismissal.
“It is clear that the respondent (GSK) acted unfairly by terminating the claimant without providing a valid reason or conducting a fair hearing,” the judge ruled.