A Nairobi court has backed Del Monte Kenya’s decision to dismiss accountant Catherine Ochako after she was caught altering her salary and benefits while on sick leave.
The judge ruled that her actions amounted to serious misconduct, justifying her termination.
According to blogger Cyprian Nyakundi on X, The case revealed that Ms. Ochako gained unauthorized access to the company’s payroll system and made several adjustments to her salary and allowances.
‘Initially, she increased her basic salary from Ksh 91,105 to Ksh 250,000 before reducing it to Ksh 170,000, and later adjusting it again to Ksh 200,000.
She also raised her housing allowance from Ksh 19,000 to Ksh 35,000 and converted her transport allowance of Ksh 7,500 into a vehicle allowance of Ksh 28,000.
Photo: Nation Source: Facebook
Her scheme was discovered during a routine payroll audit, leading to her dismissal in December 2020.
Following her termination, Ms. Ochako sued Del Monte, arguing that she had been wrongfully dismissed.
She claimed that the salary changes were part of her regular payroll checks and not an attempt to defraud the company. As a result, she sought Ksh 2 million in damages.
However, Justice Byram Ongaya ruled in favor of Del Monte, stating that the company had sufficient grounds to fire her.
He found that the unauthorized payroll adjustments were a clear violation of company policies and amounted to dishonesty.
A front view of Delmonte Kenya Limited in Thika. Photo: NTV Kenya Source: X
The judge emphasized that as an accountant, Ms. Ochako held a position of trust, which she had abused by making unauthorized financial changes for personal benefit.
The ruling serves as a strong warning to employees in financial positions about the consequences of misusing access to company systems.
It also underscores the importance of routine payroll audits in detecting and preventing internal fraud.
Del Monte Kenya has not publicly commented on the ruling, but the case highlights the company’s strict stance on financial integrity and accountability in the workplace.
