A doctor is demanding KSh41 million compensation from Aga Khan University Hospital on grounds that she was forcefully dismissed from her duties for speaking up against sexual harassment.
Through her lawyer Ong’aya Ombo, the doctor claims she was dismissed from work on September 8, 2021. This was months after she reported her supervisor for allegedly sexually assaulting her several times.
“We are asking the court to order Aga Khan Hospital to compensate for exposing the doctor to an environment that she was sexually harassed and assaulted by the said staff with the management’s full knowledge based on previous sex scandals involving the senior staff,” Ombo added.
The complainant is said to have joined the facility in September 2019 as a senior clinical officer. She was also appointed a quality advisor and corporate medical liaison officer between the hospital and United Nations.
Her supervisor, the accused, reportedly had close relations with her by virtue of their work. He would allegedly organise meetings during odd hours such as before 7am and after 4:30pm when there were less clients.
The accused would reportedly enquire about her husband, and her free days so he would meet her off work. He even went on to send her suggestive messages through her mobile phone.
On certain occasions, he touched her inappropriately, and when she rejected his advances he would pretend nothing happened.
Doctor’s Woes Begin
Tired of the “harassment”, she reported the matter to the hospital’s management who allegedly took no action against her supervisor. Instead, she was assigned a new supervisor.
“He made it clear that he would frustrate the female doctor and boasted that he was a very senior person with influence at the hospital management and board of directors,” the accused said on learning he had been reported.
In September 2020, the complainant reportedly went into isolation after coming into contact with a COVID-19 patient, and when she returned to work, her supervisor accused her of absconding her duties.
The “false accusations” against the female doctor allegedly went on till July 2021, when she was summoned by a disciplinary committee, and “forced” to tend her resignation letter.
In her petition, she accuses the hospital of putting up with a sex pest. Consequently, she demands KSh15.6 million as compensation for underpayment, KSh15.2 million for unpaid overtime hours, KSh6.6 million for unfair termination of her contract, KSh1.6 million for unremitted pension and other claims totalling Sh41 million.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has given the hospital and accused 21 days to respond to the suit.
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