Several months after complaints first surfaced about the management at Elysian Resort, an upscale hideaway in Runda, Nairobi, employees continue to cry out, saying the situation has only deteriorated, with guests now said to be receiving substandard services and the work environment becoming even more toxic.
Staff who had previously reached out to us described an ongoing crisis fuelled by cost-cutting measures that have severely affected operations, as well as allegations of theft and mismanagement at the highest levels.
Why Employees at Elysian Resort Runda Want New General Manager Gone
When a new General Manager stepped into Elysian Resort Runda in August 2024, hopes were high for fresh leadership and positive change but what followed was a rapid descent into a toxic work environment where… pic.twitter.com/rO2BfQdS6k
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 12, 2025
Some of the workers now report that on 1st March 2024, a group of in-house guests arrived at the hotel expecting a standard reception service, only to find an overwhelmed receptionist who was forced to double up as a porter and a maintenance worker.
Despite multiple requests for casual staff to assist with the night shift, the General Manager refused to authorize any additional support.
Instead, security guards (who reportedly have no hospitality training) were left to handle guest inquiries and respond to calls at the reception.
Staff say this decision, made under the guise of cost-cutting, has left clients frustrated and damaged the resort’s reputation.
The same night, a faulty boiler further disrupted guest services.
When staff raised the issue, they claim the GM dismissed their concerns and told them to figure it out on their own, as if they were engineers.
Beyond operational failures, employees allege that theft is rampant at the resort.
Money and food items are reportedly disappearing at an alarming rate, with workers claiming that even senior staff are complicit.
The situation is so awful that some employees have reportedly suggested that everyone should steal, arguing that top managers are already doing the same.
Staff say they are often left unpaid for weeks, as the Board member responsible for signing cheques repeatedly delays or refuses to release funds.
On one occasion, a rider was sent almost 30 kilometers to her home to have cheques signed, only for the request to be ignored.
The resulting cash flow problems have left night staff stranded due to a lack of fuel for the company vehicle that was supposed to transport them home.
Security concerns have also escalated, with reports indicating that outsourced guards, some allegedly recruited directly from construction sites in rural districts, have been left in charge of guest safety.
Employees fear that without an internal security team, theft and pilferage will only worsen, recalling past incidents where guards colluded with staff to steal from the resort.
They also claim that a staff member sent by the Diocese to assess the situation was quickly compromised by the GM, who allegedly bribed her to prevent negative reports from reaching the Diocese.
Staff now believe that management is engaging in blackmail and other unethical tactics to maintain control, with claims even surfacing that the GM has boasted about using sorcery to secure his position.
In what staff describe as a blatant abuse of power, the GM is also accused of taking over financial operations by personally handling the resort’s till, a function traditionally managed by the Accounts Office.
Workers allege that he has been using the till to pay suppliers (many of whom are said to be his in-laws and close associates) via M-Pesa, raising serious questions about conflict of interest and accountability.
The move, they say, was orchestrated in collaboration with a Board member, with an initial plan to fire the current accountant and replace her with an individual brought in by the same Board official.
Employees continue to call for urgent intervention from the Diocese, stakeholders, and the broader Christian community, warning that the resort’s reputation and future are at risk under the current management.
They say the work environment is now marked by fear, intimidation, and unethical leadership that prioritizes personal gain over the welfare of staff and guests.
With complaints mounting and guests increasingly dissatisfied, workers at Elysian Resort Runda say they can no longer remain silent.
They are demanding professional leadership that understands hospitality operations and values ethical business practices.
“Dear Nyakundi. Thank you for the commendable work you are doing of calling out bad employers.
Developing story at Elysian Resort, we are not doing well at all; the situation is worsening, our guests are getting a horrible and awful experience, and they are leaving disappointed. The rogue GM is failing us badly day by day.For instance, a few weeks ago, we had a couple of in-house guests. The construction materials controller GM refused to supply casuals to attend to guests during the night shift. The sole receptionist who was on duty that day was in despair and forced to double up as the receptionist, room steward, and maintenance. The guests checked in on 1st March 2024 and, as usual, they would need someone to take their orders, a room steward to orient them on our rooms, including how to use the showers, and a receptionist to check them in. This is the ideal situation of a hotel that understands its core business; on the contrary, and under instructions from the GM, the receptionist was told to check in the guests, carry their luggage to the rooms, and leave the SECURITY GUARDS at the reception to receive calls and respond to incoming inquiries.
The villain GM is doing all this in the name of cutting costs and purporting to prove a point that he has managed to cut costs, whereas we are MESSING OUR CLIENTS and compromising on standards. The very same night our boiler was faulty; upon raising the issue, the GM told us to learn how to operate it as if we are engineers; please see the GM’s response. This issue of casuals at night for proper shift coverage and night service has been brought to his attention many times, but he refused; he is a failure; he is the endemic problem. He said we use night guards. And remember we are a 24-hour hotel receiving international clients. The guards are untrained and being told to use at night are recruited straight from mjengo here in Githogoro.
Secondly, a lot of pilferage is happening at the Resort. I want to repeat that again: a lot of looting is happening at the resort; please, this should go to the DIOCESE, STAKEHOLDERS, and CHRISTIANS. People are stealing money and food; at the same time, no wonder we are always making losses after losses. In fact, the other day while having lunch in the back area, one staff was heard saying we should all steal because even the boss himself is leading in stealing. There was a time our casuals stayed for two weeks without getting their wages; this was due to an inconvenience caused by one lady on the BOARD who had refused to sign the cheque for petty cash. The very same week, staff working at night had no means of going home because the company CAR had no fuel. The lady on the BOARD knows very well we need petty cash for normal operations, but she deliberately refuses with impunity to release the cash. In fact, a rider was once sent to her home, which is 27 km away from Elysian, to take the cheques for signing; to his surprise, the cheques were never signed, and the rider returned.
This is how we operate at Elysian, with lots and lots of inconveniences from people who pretend to support us/Diocese and yet are paralyzing operations and failing us. They surely don’t understand hotel operations and the dynamics of these fast-paced setups. They don’t care and are unperturbed about theft at the resort. As it is right now, we do not have an effective security system; it is only outsourced guards. We cannot leave the resort in the hands of outsourced guards; it is risky and dangerous. In the past, the guards and staff colluded and stole, and this is exactly what is currently happening. When it comes to cash, when a casual goes for two weeks without being paid, they will pocket money from guests and also carry food from the resort to go eat. Some are even carrying chicken, meat, sausages, etc. Our internal control system is very weak; we have loopholes, and people are stealing; please let this be known. We are asking for a proper way of handling operations; let us have professionals.
There was a spy who was brought in the other day from the Diocese to spy on things and give feedback. The rogue GM, upon realizing this, started sending her money so as to defend him and never give negative feedback to the Diocese. This is how the GM operates; he is always ahead of the game and uses all manner of things to get away with his evil deeds. In fact, the other day he was heard saying he will use whatever it takes to remain the GM, even if it means using blackmail and sorcery to have his way.
As if it wasn’t bad enough, he grabbed the till from the accounts office and decided to operate it by himself and his associate and confidant, who happens to be a sloppy auditor and a nephew to the lady on the BOARD. In fact, the initial plan was to fire the current accountant and replace her with this guy who was brought in by her highness, the lady in the BOARD. As standard practice, the till is always and has always been in the custody of the accounts office, but the GM decided to operate it himself, including paying suppliers via Mpesa, and these suppliers are his in-laws and close friends and also going to shop around with it. This again is a direct conflict of interest; this has never happened, and actually, this is not a function of the office of the General Manager; it is a function of the Finance Department. The GM is an evil guy; he sits down together with the lady on the BOARD and plots evil things and even lies to the DIOCESE. They are liars and full of hypocrisy; they only have an interest of their own and not the interests of the DIOCESE. This is the reality! They will make the resort sink; they are misleading us and the entire Diocese.
We are asking for good leadership, ethical leadership, and competent management that understands the hotel business and not this kind of boss who threatens, who is failing us, who is full of lies and malice and favoritism and a habitual gossiper with junior staff.Last but not least, we want to address a seriously growing issue that happened recently. The GM is having a deep romantic relationship with some women in the resort, particularly one in housekeeping. The lady now purports to be so special, powerful, and untouchable and can walk around giving employees commands and asking questions just because she enjoys protection, affinity, and certainty of what she does with the villain GM in the laundry space and off-site. We demand decisive action taken immediately.
The GM should also be put to task and warned against using vulgar, obscene, and sexually offensive language to our women such as big buttocks, f*** you, hot and sexy, short and sweet.He has a soft spot for women. Worrisomely, one day our women will physically fight in the resort because of the uncouth GM. The series of misconduct reports is creating a harmful work environment and disturbing concern that pierces and tears right down the middle of the values of the institution.
Finally, some interns have also fallen victims of his abusive behavior and sexual harassment.
We are sick and tired of this mismanagement. Thank you,” the latest source wrote to us.
