Australia Club Ordered to Pay Kenyan Man Ksh300,000 For Discrimination

A night club in Australia has been ordered to pay a Kenyan man for denying him access because of his skin colour.

A tribunal sitting in Melbourne, Australia has compelled Empire nightclub to pay Ivan Kibet Ksh300,000 for racial discrimination by December 20. 

“The Tribunal finds that the respondent discriminated against the applicant because of his race in contravention of section 44 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. The respondent must pay to the applicant the sum of $3000 by December 20,” read the ruling.

The club was also directed to cater for training of employees who work at the entry of the club, or charged with managing and making decisions on the entry of patrons to the club.

The Court heard that, on October 7, 2017 Kibet who is a second year Law student at Victoria University set out for the club in the company of his Caucasian friends.

Kibet’s companions were all admitted into the nightclub but he was denied entry.

He claims he was discriminated against on the background of his race that evening and on another occasion ten days before.

In his statement, Kibet wrote that he was hurt and humiliated felt as if he had been treated as though he was coming from an inferior background while his friends were allowed entry into the club.

He indicated that he suffered from anxiety and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has cut ties with his Caucasian friends as save himself shame. 

His mother, Caroline Chumba, intimated it was a painful experience to see her son go through anxiety and mental health issues because of racism and humiliation.