A quiet leadership crisis is unfolding at Crown Paints Kenya Plc, one of East Africa’s most established manufacturers, following a series of abrupt and largely unexplained senior-level exits. In just under a week, at least six top managers have left the company.
These include the Marketing Manager Pamela Lokopoiyit, Customer Care and Experience Manager Alice Okeyo, Human Resource and Employee Relations Manager Emmy Chemutai, Transport and Maintenance Manager Henry Amboko, Business Development Manager Jared Ojwang, and Group Audit and Risk Manager George Okwach.
Internal memos signed by Group Human Resource Manager Nicholas B. Wanambisi confirmed the departures but provided little detail.
Some of the affected managers were placed on terminal leave, while others had their roles terminated effective immediately. The lack of clarity has only deepened suspicions that the exits may be symptomatic of a larger internal power struggle.
Sources within the company have pointed to an intensifying rift between Group Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Rao and Group Chief Operating Officer Richard Muturi.
The conflict appears rooted in a gradual shift in executive authority that has seen Rao reportedly stripped of key responsibilities.
Oversight of regional subsidiaries in Uganda and Rwanda, previously managed by Rao, has now been transferred to Muturi. The construction sector division, once under Rao’s purview, is also now under Muturi’s control.
These changes have coincided with growing speculation that the company’s Vice Chairman, Hussein Ramji, is backing Muturi, who many now view as the likely successor to Rao.
The perception of factionalism within the company’s highest ranks has left a trail of anxiety and uncertainty across departments.
Adding to the unease, new information from internal sources indicates that the wave of exits did not stop with the six initially reported.
The most recent and particularly controversial departure involves the Head of Human Resources.
According to insiders, the HR head was sent on compulsory leave without an opportunity for formal engagement or a right of response.
The situation reportedly escalated when the Vice Chairman personally demanded his resignation.
The executive eventually chose to resign, citing constructive dismissal. These events have sparked deep concern among staff members, many of whom now fear for their job security.
Several employees say there is a widespread sense of vulnerability and a growing belief that those aligned with one side of the leadership divide are being systematically edged out.
Despite efforts by the company to present the departures as normal and compliant with internal policy and the Employment Act, the manner and pace of the exits, as well as the silence around them, have only fueled more speculation.
Internally, morale is said to be at an all-time low, with reports of scrapped staff incentives, diminishing motivation, and a culture of silence spreading among employees.
“Hi Nyakundi. Kindly hide my ID. There is this story on today’s People Daily newspaper revealing what has been going on at Crown Paints. Whatever the article covered is just the surface. These developments are very recent and are still unfolding as we speak. What has been circulating inside the company since this morning is that there was another exit after those mentioned in the paper. It involves the Head of Human Resources, and it is even more controversial than the rest. He was sent on compulsory leave, with no chance to respond or be heard, and later chose to resign. From what I understand, he cited constructive dismissal. This came after the Vice Chairman reportedly called him directly and demanded his resignation. This latest development has really shaken the team. The mood inside is tense, and there is now a strong sense of fear and insecurity among employees. Many are watching their backs and feel that loyalty or neutrality is no longer a shield. It genuinely feels like anyone associated with the outgoing leadership faction is at risk.”
Crown Paints, which was established in 1958 and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, has long been a regional leader in the industry.
As of 2019, the company reported an annual turnover of 8.6 billion shillings and produced 2.4 million litres of paint per month, employing more than 1,000 people across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
However, the ongoing turmoil within its executive ranks now threatens to erode the stability and reputation it has built over decades, raising serious questions about governance, succession planning and the future direction of the company.
We will continue to closely monitor developments within Crown Paints as the futures of long-serving employees hang in the balance and fallout from silent purges and internal power shifts threatens to destabilize one of East Africa’s most prominent manufacturers.
