Kenyan court tightens layoff rules for startups

A Kenyan court ruled that restructuring alone cannot justify layoffs, requiring employers to prove a genuine operational change eliminated a role. The Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered Nokia Solutions and Networks Kenya to pay former employee Byron Otega KES 9.8 million ($76,000) for unfair redundancy. The ruling applies to all Kenyan employers, increasing legal risks for startups cutting headcount.