Kenyan ex-employee sues international airline for Sh14 million

A United Arab Emirates airline has been sued for allegedly discriminating a Kenyan employee it 'poached' from Kenya Airways.

Former KQ Customer Care Officer Mary Wairimu Moturi says The Emirates Group Ltd subjected her to harsh working conditions, leading to a bone disease.

Ms Moturi, who was employed as the security coordinator at the Dubai Airport, says after contracting the disease, the airline sacked her, citing her health as the reason.

Ms Moturi has filed a labour dispute at the Kenyan Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi.

She states her employer went against the advice volunteered by the company medic Samina Sadiqqi that the officer should not be "allocated night duties due to what he termed as Rheumatic Arthritis condition".

Dr Sadiqqi's advised the airline not to expose Moturi to severe cold but "the medical advice fell on deaf ears".

The doctor also told the airline to allocate the worker other duties while she underwent treatment for six months to enable her recover fully.

Moturi says instead, she was relieved of her duties. Now the former airline worker is demanding compensation and general damages for discrimination.

In the case filed by city lawyer Titus Koceyo, Moturi is asking the labour court to compel the airline to pay her Sh14 million.

Mr Koceyo says the Employment Act does not allow employers to discriminate against employees or subject them to any inhuman working conditions.

"The claimant is entitled to terminal dues and compensation for discrimination," Koceyo said.

He wants the court to enter a judgement in favour of his client. He has outlined the benefits as follows: Sh3,023,195 for loss of employment, Sh10 million as damages for discrimination, Sh377,898 in terminal dues, leave allowance Sh100,722 and a months' notice for Sh251,932.