Master's graduate sues University of Nairobi after being employed as a messenger

A Master's degree holder has moved to court against his employer, the University of Nairobi, for what he has termed as being given the "wrong job".

Stephen Otieno Ogutu, an actuary working as a messenger, further told the Employment and Labour Relations Court that he has not been paid for the past nine months.

Stephen's lawyer, Titus Koceyo, told the court that UoN has wrongfully and unlawfully held his client's salary with the arrears now amounting to Sh310,806.

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"Despite sterling performance of his duties and his academic qualifications, the respondent still recognises him officially as a messenger and has continued to grade his salary and job title as such which amounts to unfair labour practice," court documents read in part.

Reduced to poverty

The learned man further told the court that he is struggling to make ends meet in his circumstance and is afraid that his employer may terminate his contract.

"I urge this court to restrain UoN not to subject the plaintiff (Mr Ogutu) to inhuman, hostile and humiliating work environment pending the determination of the case.

"This is not a question of cash flow issue but an act of discrimination in a workplace," the lawyer argued.