Apollo Tours, a company serving big names like Huawei, Safaricom, Kenya Airways, Agatha, and BAT, is under fire for mistreating its drivers. Victims allege they are recruited without contracts, offer letters, or formal terms, then forced to start work immediately.
Those who ask for proper documentation face harassment from HR and risk termination. While the company flaunts professionalism to corporate clients, the drivers behind the wheel suffer in silence. This investigative report exposes the dark reality behind Apollo Tours’ glossy image.
The Hidden Struggles of Apollo Tours Drivers
Apollo Tours advertises itself as a reliable transport service for top Kenyan corporations. But behind this polished front, drivers report a disturbing pattern of exploitation. One former employee revealed that new recruits are thrown straight into work with no contracts, salary clarity, or guarantees. “You start driving the same day, with no paperwork, no security,” he said. “If you ask for a contract or your rights, HR treats you like an enemy.”
The lack of formal employment terms leaves drivers vulnerable. Without contracts, there is no legal footing for complaints or claims for unfair dismissal. Drivers often have to navigate long hours, demanding schedules, and risky driving conditions while earning uncertain pay. Many describe the environment as hostile, where questioning authority is met with immediate termination.
Casual Employment Masks Corporate Glamour
Apollo Tours’ corporate clients see only the image of efficiency, professionalism, and reliability. Behind the scenes, however, most drivers work as casual laborers with no social security, benefits, or job stability. Sources confirm that the majority of drivers live paycheck to paycheck, forced to perform under pressure while the company profits.
“The company spends more time polishing its image for clients than protecting those who actually deliver the service,” a current driver disclosed. Employees claim management uses casual employment to avoid legal obligations, including fair wages, leave, and insurance. This model allows Apollo Tours to cut costs while exploiting the labor of essential staff.
Retaliation Against Workers Who Speak Out
Drivers attempting to challenge the unfair practices face retaliation. Complaints to HR are reportedly met with hostility. “If you demand an offer letter, they make you feel like a problem,” a driver said. “Some of my colleagues were terminated after asking for their rights. It’s scary because there’s no union support, no proper contracts, nothing to protect you.”
Experts say such retaliation could be illegal under Kenyan labor laws, which require employers to provide written terms of employment and prohibit unfair dismissal. Yet Apollo Tours appears to operate with impunity, continuing to secure major corporate contracts while treating drivers as disposable labor.
The contrast between Apollo Tours’ corporate image and the reality of its workforce is striking. Drivers are forced to maintain the company’s reputation while living under precarious conditions. The company’s director, Mr. Asif, has been called out by multiple workers but remains publicly unaccountable. Labor rights advocates argue that such practices should not be tolerated in Kenya, a country with legal frameworks meant to protect employees from exploitation.
The stories of Apollo Tours drivers highlight a broader issue of corporate exploitation in Kenya. Casual employment, unregistered contracts, and punitive HR practices are not just unethical—they are illegal. Workers deserve contracts, fair treatment, and a safe working environment, especially when their labor keeps major corporations running. Exposing companies like Apollo Tours is essential to holding them accountable and ensuring that workers’ rights are respected.
Apollo Tours must answer tough questions: Why are contracts withheld? Why is questioning management punished? And why is a company profiting from corporate clients allowed to operate under its own unfair rules? Until these questions are addressed, the drivers—who make Apollo Tours functional—will continue to suffer while the company profits.
