Labor Court Discards Change.org Defamation Petition against its former Country Manager

The employment and labor relations court has in a ruling dated 25th October “Declined” a petition by Change.org, LTSDL KYA Solutions, DEEl KE and DEEl KE against former Change.org country director Priscilla Muthoni Maingi citing that the petitioner ‘failed to show the petition and cause relate to same transactions.’

In his ruling Justice Byram Ongaya, Change.org and its agents had filed a statement of claim seeking prayers relating to damages for defamation and breach of contract certifying the application as EXTREMELY urgent.

Priscilla Muthoni Maingi, previously holding the position of country director at Change.Org filed a lawsuit against the well-known petition platform and its local representatives, alleging that her contract was terminated solely based on her gender.

Muthoni is seeking a legal declaration asserting the violation of her rights and is demanding the outsourcing firm and its representatives to compensate her. Her claims include 12 months’ worth of salary totaling Ksh.11.7 million, insurance coverage valued at Ksh.5.4 million, and personal loan insurance for 13 months amounting to Ksh.14 million.

Muthoni further alleges that her removal from the company was a deliberate maneuver to replace her with a male employee.

Judge Byram Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court instructed Muthoni to serve Change.Org and its representatives through mail. This directive came after Muthoni’s legal representatives indicated that they were unable to serve the firm without the court’s permission.

Just last week Change.org is announced to its employees that it was closing its Kenyan offices after two years citing barriers in strategy saying its campaign strategy has been stretched too thin.

Further the company said it had witnessed little brand or growth marketing expertise with the office not having enough resources to create a “more powerful product.” The company said that it has resulted to the difficult decision to reduce its difficult footprint and shift from campaigning to marketing expertise and part ways from its Kenyan staff.

The respondents in the case include LTSDL KYA Solutions Ltd, a Kenyan-registered outsourcing company, DEEL Ke, an agent of DEEL INC, a multinational corporation headquartered in California, and Change.Org.