A storm is brewing at Belgian renewable energy firm Hydrobox NV, which specializes in developing small-scale hydropower plants that harness the energy of running water to generate electricity.
The company, which operates in Kenya through its subsidiaries Hydrobox, Magiro and Yetu Energy, is now battling serious allegations of exploitation, fraud, and workplace misconduct as residents in Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties accuse the firm of collecting money under the guise of promising electricity connections, promises that have allegedly gone unfulfilled for months, in some cases years, leaving entire communities in darkness and financial frustration.
Former employees, speaking under anonymity for fear of retaliation, describe a toxic workplace culture marked by rampant abuse of power, with disturbing claims that one of the firm’s Kenyan directors repeatedly demands sexual favours from female staff members in exchange for contract renewals.
This is an allegation that, insiders say, is well-known internally but systematically silenced through coordinated cover-ups by the company’s HR lead Lynette Muema and Dutch operations manager Lonneke Wiersma, who has been described as openly racist and intolerant toward local staff.
Sources claim that when such abuse surfaces or employees raise concerns, the company’s response is to extend short-term contracts as a form of damage control before later terminating the whistleblowers under dubious grounds, often citing “underperformance” without substantiated reviews, effectively silencing dissent while protecting those at the top.
Despite positioning itself as a green energy champion committed to community empowerment and sustainability, Hydrobox NV is now facing a credibility crisis, with growing for regulatory investigations, legal action and a full audit into the company’s operations, its treatment of employees, and the ethical conduct of its leadership.
“Hi Nyakundi. I’d like to expose Hydrobox, Magiro, and Yetu Energy. Three companies operating under the name Hydrobox, a Belgian-Kenyan energy firm. They claim to generate and distribute power but lack the capacity to do so. They’ve been collecting money from residents in Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties, promising electricity connections that never happen. Internally, the company exploits employees especially women. One of the directors, John Magiro, is known to demand sexual favors from female staff in exchange for contract renewals. When such issues are exposed, the company extends contracts briefly before dismissing employees under false claims of underperformance. The HR, Lynette Muema, works closely with Lonneke Wiersma, a Dutch operations manager whose behavior is openly racist and unprofessional, to cover up these abuses. Please expose this company and help protect others from falling for this. Hide ID”
