Nairobi, March 5 -- Safaricom has lost a plea for the suspension of a Sh2.5 million compensation awarded to a former customer care representative after the court ruled that the woman could refund the money if the telco won in appeal.

Justice James Rika dismissed the application by Safaricom, stating that Ms Eva Bessy Kathambi had demonstrated that she has the financial wherewithal to refund the amount in the event the intended appeal by the mobile company succeeds

Ms Kathambi, now a PhD holder, successfully sued Safaricom in 2014 and was awarded the amount for pain and suffering after she was retired on medical grounds in October 2012.

The woman was retired on October 9, 2012, at the age of 31 years after losing her voice.

"She is a P...