"Bidco ordered to pay family Sh1.1 million after staffer's body found in store"

Bidco Oil Refineries has been ordered to pay Sh1.1 million damages to the family of an employee found dead in one of its packaging stores. The body of 33-year-old casual labourer Albert Zedi was found under a heap of cartons four days after he had gone missing. It was found swollen, with blood stains and head, neck and leg injuries. Zedi, who had worked for the Thika-based company from 1991 to 2002, had reported for night duty on October 16, 2002 when he went missing...

In a ruling at Milimani law courts last week, Judge Joseph Sergon said: “If there were proper working security system the deceased’s body could have easily been found within a short time," he said. "I am convinced that the circumstantial evidence which presents itself indicts the defendant to be liable." Sergon questioned whether there was an attempt to cover up the death, dismissed the company's defence and awarded the family general damages for loss and pain, loss of dependency and special damages.