Abraham Leon Ngaira & 18 others v Sendwave Limited (zepz)

RACHEAL OLUOCH ..................................................................... 20TH APPLICANT BIANCA NYAMBURA .................................................................... 21ST APPLICANT PHENEY MWIMWA ....................................................................... 22ND APPLICANT MICHELLE OWILI .......................................................................... 23RD APPLICANT STELLAH WANJOHI ...................................................................... 24TH APPLICANT DONELLA LANGAT ....................................................................... 25TH APPLICANT JOYCE WAMBUI NJUBI ................................................................. 26TH APPLICANT DAVID CHWEYA ............................................................................ 27TH APPLICANT MOREEN CHILO ............................................................................ 28TH APPLICANT BRENDA ANYANGO MIDAMBA ................................................ 29TH APPLICANT PURITY NGETICH ........................................................................ 30TH APPLICANT JOSEPHINE OMONDI .................................................................... 31ST APPLICANT IAN MWANGI DUNCAN .............................................................. 32ND APPLICANT FAITH CHELANGAT ..................................................................... 33RD APPLICANT ESTHER GATHONI MAINA ........................................................ 34TH APPLICANT BANCY NYAKIO NJIRU ............................................................... 35TH APPLICANT YVONNE OCHIENG ...................................................................... 36TH APPLICANT EVA MAKENA MUTEA ................................................................. 37TH APPLICANT JOYCE MUSAU ................................................................................ 38TH APPLICANT SELESTINE AKELO ........................................................................ 39TH APPLICANT JOSEPHINE FLORA ATIENO OKENO ....................................... 40TH APPLICANT LUCY WAMBUI ............................................................................... 41ST APPLICANT FELICITY NDUTA KAMWANGA ............................................... 42ND APPLICANT WINNIE WANJIKU WACHIRA ................................................... 43RD APPLICANT JANNAT JUMA ............................................................................... 44TH APPLICANT JOSECK MOMANYI ....................................................................... 45TH APPLICANT CAREN SHANICE GUMBA .......................................................... 46TH APPLICANT RHODA MUKOLWE ...................................................................... 47TH APPLICANT STEPHEN KARIUKI ...................................................................... 48TH APPLICANT COREEN NAMWANZO GONZO ................................................. 49TH APPLICANT GERALDINE KOKI ......................................................................... 50TH APPLICANT GRACE WARIARA MUHOYA ...................................................... 51ST APPLICANT https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 2

page 2 of 7

KEBASO MARAGIA ....................................................................... 52ND APPLICANT IRENE EKIRAPA ............................................................................ 53RD APPLICANT KELVIN MUTHOKA ...................................................................... 54TH APPLICANT ISHMAEL MWAI ............................................................................. 55TH APPLICANT FRANCIS MBITHI .......................................................................... 56TH APPLICANT IRENE AWUOR OTULA ............................................................... 57TH APPLICANT SHARON ALUVISA ........................................................................ 58TH APPLICANT CAROLINE WAMBUI NJOROGE ................................................ 59TH APPLICANT JOYCE MBUGUA ............................................................................. 60TH APPLICANT DAVID KURIA MWANGI .............................................................. 61ST APPLICANT FLAVIANE MUTURI ...................................................................... 62ND APPLICANT JEMIMAH MUROKI ....................................................................... 63RD APPLICANT JOHNSTONE MUTHEE ................................................................. 64TH APPLICANT JAMES OBINGO .............................................................................. 65TH APPLICANT CAROLINE NYOKABI KARIUKI ................................................ 66TH APPLICANT MERCY ALUSA ............................................................................... 67TH APPLICANT JANEFFA MAREMBA MWAKALE ............................................... 68TH APPLICANT DAMARIS OLUOCH ...................................................................... 69TH APPLICANT HELLEN MALAGO ......................................................................... 70TH APPLICANT EVERLYNE AKOTH OTIENO ....................................................... 71ST APPLICANT SAIDA YUSUF .................................................................................. 72ND APPLICANT LUCY MOBAGI ............................................................................... 73RD APPLICANT LEONIDA NGETICH ...................................................................... 74TH APPLICANT JOSEPH GICHUHI .......................................................................... 75TH APPLICANT SALLY KOROSS ............................................................................... 76TH APPLICANT NASEEM MUKANDA ..................................................................... 77TH APPLICANT PERIS LUTA ..................................................................................... 78TH APPLICANT GLADYS CHEROTICH RONOH .................................................. 79TH APPLICANT DIANA IRERI .................................................................................. 80TH APPLICANT BILHA MUTHONI MBAIRE ......................................................... 81ST APPLICANT ANDRE ETABALE WETINDI ....................................................... 82ND APPLICANT MOSES KIBET ................................................................................. 83RD APPLICANT https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 3

page 3 of 7

ELIZABETH ODHIAMBO ............................................................. 84TH APPLICANT JERRY OTIENO ............................................................................... 85TH APPLICANT ANN MUTHENGI ........................................................................... 86TH APPLICANT DIANA KERUBO ORWARU ......................................................... 87TH APPLICANT MERCY OLOO ................................................................................. 88TH APPLICANT RUTH MITA .................................................................................... 89TH APPLICANT JACKLYNE MUTHEE ..................................................................... 90TH APPLICANT MARK KHAEMBA .......................................................................... 91ST APPLICANT SAMANTHA KIMANI ................................................................... 92ND APPLICANT SHARON ONONO .......................................................................... 93RD APPLICANT SIMON KIMANI CHEGE ............................................................... 94TH APPLICANT NICHOLAS MUTHONI ................................................................. 95TH APPLICANT STELLAH WAMAITHA ................................................................. 96TH APPLICANT IRENE MUIYURO .......................................................................... 97TH APPLICANT LYDIA DANDA ................................................................................ 98TH APPLICANT LUCY KALUNGU ........................................................................... 99TH APPLICANT GRACE MUIRURI ........................................................................ 100TH APPLICANT MERCY CHEGE WAMBUI ........................................................... 101ST APPLICANT RALPH MSHENGA ...................................................................... 102ND APPLICANT VERONICA OKOTH .................................................................... 103RD APPLICANT CATHERINE KARANJA ............................................................. 104TH APPLICANT MARY-EDNA ACHIENG OBALLA ............................................ 105TH APPLICANT ANNASTACIA NDUNGE NZUKI .............................................. 106TH APPLICANT FAITH NGALA .............................................................................. 107TH APPLICANT YVONNE KIRAGU ....................................................................... 108TH APPLICANT ELIZABETH SAXTON ................................................................. 109TH APPLICANT LILIAN OTIENO ........................................................................... 110TH APPLICANT CHRISTINE NYIBORI ARUKA ................................................. 111TH APPLICANT ROSEMARY CHEGE ..................................................................... 112TH APPLICANT SHEILA SAIDIMU ......................................................................... 113TH APPLICANT ANTONY BUYEKA ...................................................................... 114TH APPLICANT GRACE OMARI ............................................................................ 115TH APPLICANT https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 4

page 4 of 7

MIRIAM NYAMBURA MURIITHI ........................................... 116TH APPLICANT RITA ODUNDO ............................................................................ 117TH APPLICANT GRACE WANJIKU KAGWE ........................................................ 118TH APPLICANT NZAKWA VENESSA ..................................................................... 119TH APPLICANT CALVINCE ONYANGO ............................................................... 120TH APPLICANT MILLICENT KILONZO ................................................................ 121ST APPLICANT JOSEPH MUTUI ............................................................................ 122ND APPLICANT DERRICK MUNENE .................................................................... 123RD APPLICANT SYLVIA WANJIKU WAWERU. ................................................... 124TH APPLICANT HILLARY ROTICH ....................................................................... 125TH APPLICANT WINNIE NJERI NJOROGE ......................................................... 126TH APPLICANT KEVIN WACHIRA ........................................................................ 127TH APPLICANT AND SENDWAVE LIMITED (ZEPZ) ........................................................... RESPONDENT (Being an application for extension of time to file the Record of Appeal against the Judgment of the Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Linet Ndolo, J.) dated 14th March 2024 in ELRC Cause No. E532 of 2023) RULING 1. In a judgment delivered on 14th March 2024 the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) (L. Ndolo, J.) allowed the applicants’ claim for unlawful and unfair termination of employment by way of redundancy and awarded each of them the equivalent of one month’s salary in lieu of notice. Their prayers for other reliefs including claims for house allowance for 7 months; 3 months’ pay in lieu of notice; 12 months’ salary compensation for unfair redundancy; severance pay; and bonuses were declined. Dissatisfied with part of the judgment and intending to appeal to this Court, the applicants through their present advocates, namely MAW Advocates LLP filed a Notice of Appeal dated 19th March 2024. 2. In their application dated 11th June 2024 prosecuted before me on 25th March 2025 by learned counsel for the applicants Mr. Wangila Waliaula, the applicants seek leave to appeal against the said judgment out of time. They assert in the affidavit sworn by Abraham Leon Ngaira on behalf of the applicants that having filed the Notice of Appeal dated 19th March 2024, they were unable to file the Memorandum and Record of Appeal within the stipulated period on account of “a disagreement” among them on the issue of representation in the appeal; that after the period of lodging the appeal had lapsed, the applicants instructed their advocates to file the present application; that they have since obtained a certified copy of the judgment and have prepared a complete record of appeal and are ready to file it without further delay. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 5

page 5 of 7

3. Mr. Waliaula in his written and oral submissions submitted that in those circumstances, this is a proper case for the Court to exercise its discretion in favour of the applicants and extend time. In support, counsel cited decision of the Supreme Court in Nicholas Kiptoo Arap Korir Salat v IEBC & 7 others [2014] eKLR and of this Court in Leo Sila Mutiso v Hellen Wangari Mwangi [1999] 2 EA 231 urging that the delay involved is not inordinate and has been satisfactorily explained; that no prejudice will be occasioned to the respondent and that the intended appeal raises serious triable issues. 4. Opposing the application, learned counsel Mr. Billy Wesonga relying on a replying affidavit sworn by Steve Carpenter, head of the respondent as well as his written submissions which he orally highlighted urged that the delay involved is not excusable; that the explanation offered is disingenuous as the applicants did file a notice of appeal dated 19th March 2024 though they did not serve it; that the respondent, which has already satisfied the award of the ELRC will be prejudiced having deemed the litigation as concluded as it was not served with the notice of appeal. 5. Citing decisions in Nicholas Kiptoo Arap Korir Salat v IEBC & 7 others and Leo Sila Mutiso v Hellen Wangari Mwangi as well as Paul Wanjohi Mathenge v Duncan Gichane Mathenge [2013] eKLR and Janet Nyandiko v Kenya Commercial Bank Limited [2014] KECA 293 (KLR) on the applicable principles, counsel urged that there was no plausible explanation for the delay and the application lacks merit. 6. In Nicholas Kiptoo Arap Korir Salat v IEBC & 7 others the Supreme Court of Kenya pronounced that extension of time is not a right of a party but an equitable remedy available to a deserving party at the discretion of the court; that the party seeking extension of time has the burden to lay a basis to the satisfaction of the court; that extension of time is a consideration on a case to case basis; and that delay should be explained to the satisfaction of the court. Other considerations include whether there will be prejudice suffered by the respondents if the extension is granted; and whether the application is brought without undue delay. Public interest is also a relevant consideration. 7. The explanation offered by the applicants for the conceded delay involved is that having filed the Notice of Appeal dated 19th March 2024, they were unable to file the Memorandum and Record of Appeal within the stipulated period on account of “a disagreement” among them on the issue of representation in the appeal. It is however apparent that the Notice of Appeal was filed by the firm MAW Advocates LLP. There is no suggestion that that firm did not have instructions from the applicants to do so. It must be deemed to have had instructions to file the appeal. It is the same firm of advocates that filed the present application on behalf of the applicants. The assertion that a disagreement on representation impeded timely filing of the appeal is therefore not convincing. I am therefore inclined to agree with counsel for the respondent that the delay has not been satisfactorily explained. 8. Counsel also informed the Court during the hearing of the application that the respondent, not having been served with a notice of appeal, adjusted its position and satisfied the judgment amount on the belief that litigation on the matter was at an end. There is merit therefore in the argument that the respondent would suffer prejudice in having the matter re-opened. 9. All in all, I am not persuaded that the applicants have laid a proper basis for the Court to exercise its discretion in their favour. The applicants’ application dated 11th June 2024 fails and is hereby dismissed with costs to the respondent. DATED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 23RD DAY OF MAY, 2025. S. GATEMBU KAIRU, FCIArb ................................ https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 6

page 6 of 7

JUDGE OF APPEAL I certify that this is a true copy of the original. Signed DEPUTY REGISTRAR. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keca/2025/968/eng@2025-05-23 7

page 7 of 7