A Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) scientist has initiated legal action to recover Sh70.7 million in unpaid compensation, alleging the agency has ignored a 2012 court ruling in his favor.
Dr. Ezekiel Okemwa, suspended from KMFRI in 1999 after criminal charges, claims he was acquitted in 2012. A labor court awarded him Sh33 million in back wages, Sh20 million in damages for wrongful termination, and 14% annual interest starting from the judgment date. His legal team states the total amount, including accrued interest, reached Sh70.7 million by July 2016.
The case, filed in 2019 before the High Court’s Constitutional and Judicial Review Division, names KMFRI director Prof. James Njiru and the institution as respondents. Okemwa’s application argues the agency’s refusal to comply with the 2012 judgment constitutes a deliberate violation of legal obligations.
Okemwa alleges KMFRI failed to reinstate him after his acquittal, despite the labor court’s directive. Court documents show the agency has repeatedly refused to settle the debt, causing significant financial hardship. His affidavit states the decretal amount continues to accrue interest, with the current total exceeding Sh70.7 million.
