Family of man boiled to death rejects compensation from his employer
By Judy Jerono
The family of a man who boiled to death at a plant based in Thika has rejected a Ksh420,000 compensation from the company.
The deceased’s father Martin Oraro, 74, who spoke to the media said that they will move to court after compensation talks with the Thika-based steel manufacturer collapsed.
He mentioned that he was offered Ksh100,000 but said that the compensation offered by the company was a mock to the family, considering the horrific way in which his son lost his life.
“The company offered me Ksh100,000, and when I asked them about the compensation, the HR manager told me that they would compensate me with a third of Ksh21,000 that my son was earning per month for the five years he worked as a permanent employee,'' Oraro told Nation.
[caption id="attachment_16585" align="alignnone" width="990"]
Caleb Otieno who boiled to death at blue Nile Rolling Mills in Thika. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
''They told me this would translate to Ksh7,000 per month. When my other son John Agwambo did the calculations, we realized the compensation would be Ksh420,000 for all the five years he worked there as a permanent employee, yet it is safety negligence at the company that made my son die. We felt ridiculed and denied justice.” He lamented
The family of 34-year-old Caleb Otieno who died on March 25th after falling into a vat of molten steel at the Blue Nile Rolling Mills Ltd, where he worked for seven years, further said that they will go ahead and sue the company.
The few remains of the deceased retrieved from the boiler have been preserved at General Kago Funeral Home in Thika and will be buried at his father’s home in Kisumu West on Saturday, April 9.
The family is appealing to well-wishers for financial support to enable them accord him a decent burial and to seek justice.
Thika DCIO Joseph Thuvi said the matter is still under investigation but he ruled out foul play in Otieno’s death.
Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi condemned the move for the company to offer the family Ksh. 420,000 as the compensation saying that the compensation should not be less than Ksh20 million.
In his tweeter account, Havi said that “…. Money is compensation for lost life. Compensation for the wrongful death of a youthful working male adult cannot be less than Ksh. 20 M,” he stated
Havi further advised the Blue Nile Rolling Mills to have insurance on the risk “let them pay Caleb Otieno’s family” he said
Caleb Otieno who boiled to death at blue Nile Rolling Mills in Thika. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
''They told me this would translate to Ksh7,000 per month. When my other son John Agwambo did the calculations, we realized the compensation would be Ksh420,000 for all the five years he worked there as a permanent employee, yet it is safety negligence at the company that made my son die. We felt ridiculed and denied justice.” He lamented
The family of 34-year-old Caleb Otieno who died on March 25th after falling into a vat of molten steel at the Blue Nile Rolling Mills Ltd, where he worked for seven years, further said that they will go ahead and sue the company.
The few remains of the deceased retrieved from the boiler have been preserved at General Kago Funeral Home in Thika and will be buried at his father’s home in Kisumu West on Saturday, April 9.
The family is appealing to well-wishers for financial support to enable them accord him a decent burial and to seek justice.
Thika DCIO Joseph Thuvi said the matter is still under investigation but he ruled out foul play in Otieno’s death.
Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi condemned the move for the company to offer the family Ksh. 420,000 as the compensation saying that the compensation should not be less than Ksh20 million.
In his tweeter account, Havi said that “…. Money is compensation for lost life. Compensation for the wrongful death of a youthful working male adult cannot be less than Ksh. 20 M,” he stated
Havi further advised the Blue Nile Rolling Mills to have insurance on the risk “let them pay Caleb Otieno’s family” he said What's Your Reaction?
