How man's tongue cost him 28-year career in sexual harassment case

Wooden gavel. [Courtesy/GettyImages]

In the Bible, James writes that the tongue is a small part of the body, yet incredibly powerful, capable of great good or harm, much like a small rudder steering a large ship or a tiny spark igniting a massive fire.

Perhaps Jackson Kiprotich Limo now understands the power of the tongue better than anyone else after losing a case against his former employer, Lipton Teas and Infusions.

Limo sued the company, demanding at least Sh53 million following his sacking after a 28-year career over sexual harassment.

He denied the claims, saying that he was a family man.

However, his promise to buy a red dress for one of the witnesses, give her a child, and his comment about the breasts of another landed him in trouble.

"In this instant case, the claimant, despite being a family man, as he told this honourable court, went ahead to promise to buy a red intimate apparel for one of the witnesses and promised her a child and commented about one of the witnesses' breasts," observed Justice Anna Mwaure.

While dismissing the case, Justice Mwaure said Limo was given a fair chance to rebut the sexual harassment claims. She said that the disciplinary hearing was in a free, unthreatening environment.

Limo was employed by the firm on February 1, 1996 as a research assistant and he rose through the ranks to a plant manager.

However, on May 2, 2023, Lipton served him with a letter to show cause why he should not be fired following allegations of sexual harassment and an improper relationship with female employees.

He denied the claims, saying that they were based on rumours, gossip and factually incorrect allegations that were not backed by witnesses.

Limo was summarily dismissed on May 8, the same year.

In the case, he alleged that the company allegedly hurriedly acted following a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) expose on sexual harassment in tea companies. He argued that he became a scapegoat to appease the overseas markets.

He claimed that he had never violated the company's policy, adding that the allegations and subsequent dismissal had affected his family and reputation in the society.

Lipton on the other hand told the court that Limo was fired following internal investigations. The firm said it had grounds to believe that he had violated its policy and therefore invited him to respond to the allegations.

It then stated that it had a disciplinary hearing. Lipton told the court that during the hearing, it was established that he had a sexual relationship with a junior employee between 2020 and 2021, promising her a permanent job and property in exchange of sexual favours.

It also argued that he had made sexual advances towards a newly appointed assistant divisional production manager, which she rejected, adding that he directed inappropriate and lewd remarks to his direct supervisor.

The multinational stated that Limo signed the meeting minutes, confirming the accuracy of the record. However, it stated that it offered him a chance to appeal before the head of plantations, Africa.

It denied that the hearing process was rushed or based on hearsay.

Lipton asserted that Limo knew he was bound to the company's policy on zero tolerance on sexual harassment.