Concerns are mounting over alleged exploitative labour practices at tea processing conglomerate Sasini PLC, operating along the Kericho Nyamira county border, with affected employees pointing to what they describe as a systemic breach of contract and unfair treatment across its green leaf collection operations.
Employees working under contract, particularly those employed as clerks and drivers at the company’s Kipkebe and Keritor estates and factories, say they are subjected to pay deductions that are neither clearly explained nor outlined in their contracts.
At the heart of the complaints is the method of payment.
While the contracts reportedly promise a monthly salary of Ksh 35,000, the actual pay is based on a piece-rate system tied to the quantity and quality of green leaf collected.
According to affected workers, deductions are made for what the company deems as “poor” or “scorched” leaf.
Specifically, clerks are penalized at a rate of Ksh 13 per kilogram for poor leaf and Ksh 43.50 per kilogram for scorched leaf.
These deductions are said to be uncontracted and arbitrary, leaving many workers with severely reduced salaries, or even with nothing at all at the end of the month.
The situation is further worsened by alleged bias in the allocation of collection routes.
Employees allege that tribalism and nepotism heavily influence the assignment of routes, with more privileged workers being granted zones with higher green leaf volumes, while others are left to struggle with low-yield areas, further diminishing their income.
The net effect of these combined challenges is that a substantial number of workers, despite being full-time contract employees, are consistently taking home little to no pay, some even registering negative balances after deductions.
This has demoralized staff and reportedly led to high attrition rates, with workers unable to support their families or meet basic needs despite being officially employed.
Adding to the concern is the lack of transparency and accountability in payroll administration.
The payslips reportedly reflect these deductions without any supportive breakdown or rationale, and employees claim that the company makes no effort to address or explain the losses.
With the issue reportedly affecting a large number of employees across multiple locations in Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, and Kisii counties, calls are growing for urgent intervention from labour authorities, legal experts, and civil society.
The workers, feeling silenced and desperate, are now seeking justice and exposure to stop what they see as blatant impunity within the company’s employment system.
“Hi Cyprian. I had inboxed you on Facebook about breach of employment contract. See attached are parts of the contract and a payslip for a clerk. This happens across the company, forcing most people to go home with nil or negative salaries. It’s sad 😢. Kindly assist to air this. We need to stop this impunity please. I am a contract employee of a tea company in Kericho/Nyamira County. I signed a contract paying a salary of 35k but based on piece rate as a green leaf collection clerk. My problem is that they deduct for the poor and scorched green leaf from the payslip. This is not indicated in the contract. Is there any legal breach of contract? Can we do an exposure? Because most contract clerks and drivers barely get salaries. Another crazy deduction is for scorched leaf at KES 43.50 per kg. Remember, poor leaf is utilised by the company, and the clerk is deducted KES 13 per kg. Tribalism and nepotism is top notch. Less privileged workers get routes with few kgs. I forgot the company name. It’s Sasini PLC, operating along the Kericho and Nyamira county boundaries. It buys green leaf from Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, and Kericho. It operates two factories and estates: Kipkebe (main operations office) and Keritor.”
Are you a current or former contract employee at Sasini PLC or another agribusiness entity who has experienced unlawful salary deductions, concealed contractual breaches, or systemic discrimination in the allocation of work responsibilities?
We are documenting these grievances to expose patterns of corporate impunity and advocate for fair labour standards.
We urge you to come forward confidentially and share your story to help build a stronger case for accountability and justice in the agricultural sector.
