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FIDA questions unfair labour practices at Kemri

By Ngumbao Kithi

The Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) says labour practices at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), Kilifi, raise issues of breach of contractual obligations and rights violations.

In a letter signed by Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmmes Claris Oganga, Fida said the contents of the memorandum, which led to the suspension of six senior research scientists on November 30 last year points at diverse rights violations.

The organisation said it was particularly concerned about allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation in the workplace, something which has been declared unlawful in several legislative instruments, including the employment Act, 2007 and the Constitution.

The scientists are reported to have been sacked after they questioned among other malpractices, racial discrimination and intellectual property theft.

"We are further advised that the staff members in question have in the past made efforts to pursue their collective and respective claims within internal mechanisms, including email correspondence and meetings with the management but their efforts have not borne desired fruits," she said.

Fida has asked for the actual progress made by the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, a collaborative venture between Kemri, Oxford University and the Wellcome Trust (UK).

"We accordingly seek to inquire as we hereby do to determine actual progress made by yourselves towards addressing the said allegations and or progress in taking up such further and necessary action in light of the various allegations failure to which, we shall be at liberty to pursue such further and necessary action with ultimate view of ensuring that matters raised are traversed and appropriate action taken," she said.

The chairman of the Kemri Board, Dr Muinga Chokwe, said investigations have been launched over the suspension of the six scientists.

"This is a matter we are well aware of. We are investigating the reason behind the suspension and a solution will be reached," he said.

The Fida letter dated January 25 has been sent to the chairman of Kemri Board of Directors, the director, Welcome Trust and the Vice Chancellor, Oxford University and copied to all the six suspended scientists and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.