This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, Sportpesa closed its doors, leaving hundreds of employees jobless. Two of them, Joseph Njoroge and Jane Minayo, shared their stories with The Standard about the impact of losing their jobs.
Joseph Njoroge, a digital social media strategist at Sportpesa, was left dumbfounded by the loss of his job. 'I worry for my two-year-old son. He will have to do without the medical insurance cover that the company provided for us. His birthday is approaching next month, but he will have to do without much that we could have provided,' he said.
Jane Minayo, who used to deliver food for employees at Sportpesa, is now at a loss after the company was closed. 'Gambling may be a vice. But Sportpesa helped me. Alcohol too is a vice. Drinking and gambling is someone’s choice. I feel punished,' she said.
As Kenyans struggle to cope with the loss of their jobs, stories like Njoroge's and Minayo's serve as a reminder of the human cost of business closures.
