KPMG barred from digging into employee’s private life

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has directed KPMG to stop accessing the personal information of one of its employees being investigated for fraud.

Judge Monicah Mbaru, in a ruling delivered on March 30, said the audit firm has violated the Constitution in investigating the private affairs of Gloria Jepkurui Koima, who has been working for the firm for seven years.

“KPMG is hereby restrained from accessing any information from the claimant’s phone and where such information has been obtained should be removed from work records,” said Justice Mbaru (right).

KPMG investigators, led by Chief Executive Josphat Mwaura and partners Brian D'Souza and Jane Mugo, were said to have unlawfully seized Ms Koima's personal phone without her consent and proceeded to use the information in it in disciplinary proceedings against her.

The judge ordered that KPMG inform the petitioner of the allegations against her in writing to enable her to prepare her defence.

“The claimant shall be accorded a conducive work environment to undertake her duties unless there is any other matter arising out of this petition,” said Justice Mbaru.