Kenya - At least 25 employees of a local oil company are seeking legal redress after they were sacked Monday under unclear circumstances. Petro Oil Kenya sent home staff at two of its outlets - Petro Ngara and Petro Waiyaki Way - in Nairobi, kicking off an angry reaction from the employees who said they were not given adequate notice period. The letters of termination are dated June 18, 2011 and the employees were given until June 20 to return company property in their possession and vacate their positions. The reason for termination is not indicated but Petro Oil Kenya CEO Benson King'ori insists the employees understand why they were dismissed.

"This is to inform you that your services with the company have been terminated with effect from June 20, 2011," the letter reads in part. The letter that on termination of services, the affected employees will be eligible to a salary and house allowance up to and including June 20, one month's pay in lieu of notice and 31 leave days accrued up to the date of termination.

The Kenya Petroleum and Oil Workers Union was Wednesday preparing to file a case at the Industrial Court under certificate of urgency seeking restraining orders against the company.

"We are working on our members' files. We have also written to the company's Human Resources officer (Philip Chirima) demanding that the workers be reinstated and their dues settled," Union organizing secretary John Obure.

The Union also took issue with the fact that the employer did not notify the staff within a month's period as required under employment laws.

Some of the affected employees who spoke to the Nation said staff from the rank of station managers to pump attendants received the termination letters.

However, the company chief executive officer Benson King'ori insists the management followed the law in terminating the contracts.

"We followed all the provisions of the Labour laws but it is their right to go to court," Mr Kingori emphasised.

The company has been having running court cases and a previous court order had stopped the termination.

Mr Obure said the Union will also alert the court to the "contemptuous action by Petro Oil of the court order".

Walter Menya

Daily Nation/23/06/2011