"No Damages for Bank Manager Accused of Sexual Harassment"

A former manager of Equity Bank who was sacked following allegations of sexually harassing a beneficiary of the Wings To Fly program has suffered a blow after the Employment and Labor Relations court ruled he is not entitled to any damages.

Justice Byram Ongaya ruled that although the bank did not establish the veracity of the allegations, the claimant, Charles Ngochi, vigorously contributed to his termination. In his verdict, Mr Ongaya observed that Mr Ngochi, as business growth and development manager at Mumias branch, breached the Wings to Fly child protection policy which among other things barred the staff from developing physical or sexual relationships with beneficiaries. Mr Ngochi had been accused by the beneficiary of forcefully hugging her, touching her breasts and unbuttoning her blouse when he took her for lunch at a hotel after visiting her home in 2013.