JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
1. By an order of this Court dated 21st March, 2017 these three appeals namely; Civil Appeal Nos. 72, 73 and 74 of 2017 were consolidated. In this judgment reference to the appellant relates to National Bank of Kenya Ltd, while reference to the respondents relate to all the respondents in the three appeals.
2. The dispute revolves around the entitlements of the respondents under a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) scheme offered by the appellant. The parties’ relationship was that of employer/employees wherein the respondents had been engaged by the appellant in various capacities under diverse terms and conditions in its branches countrywide.
3. By a circular dated 19th February, 2014 the appellant invited all its employees who wished to retire early, to take advantage of a new scheme it had launched (the VER scheme) effective 31st March, 2014. The invitation was open to all employees, below and above 50, subject to the appellant’s approval. The circular set out the…