Nairobi, May 13 -- Many multinational employers operating in Kenya rely on global HR policies for good reason. These frameworks are designed to promote consistency, reinforce shared values, and support a common corporate culture across markets. On paper, they do exactly that.

The difficulty tends to arise in practice, particularly when issues of discipline or termination are involved. It is often only at this point that organisations are surprised to learn that a decision which complies fully with global standards can still be challenged and overturned under Kenyan law. When that happens, the cost in litigation, reputational exposure, and operational disruption can be substantial.

The fundamental issue is one that many global organisati...