Workers at Magunas Supermarket continue to describe punishing conditions behind the shelves, with a fresh wave of testimonies surfacing after earlier reporting opened the floodgates for employees across multiple branches to speak out about what they say has become an entrenched culture of excessive working hours, managerial intimidation and controlled silence, where exhaustion is routine, complaints are quietly shut down, and job security appears tied more to obedience than performance.
The latest report follows a previous exposé that detailed long shifts, rigid contracts and denial of basic labour protections, a report that triggered an outpouring of messages from insiders who say the problems run deeper and wider than initially revealed.
Since that publication, current and former staff from different towns have reached out independently, many echoing the same experiences and insisting that what happens in one branch mirrors what plays out across the chain.
One senior cashier, who has worked with the supermarket for about two years and requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, describes a workplace where managers hold disproportionate power over their livelihoods, with transfers quietly used as punishment and resistance often met with subtle threats.
She says refusing personal advances from supervisors can quickly turn into disciplinary action, as branch managers are seen as the eyes and ears of Human Resource offices, leaving workers feeling exposed and defenceless.
According to her account, pay remains modest even for long-serving staff, while work schedules stretch relentlessly from Monday to Sunday, with days starting early in the morning and ending close to 10 p.m. in some outlets.
Off days, she says, are treated as favours rather than entitlements, with many workers going more than six months without rest, only receiving leave after repeated insistence and prolonged delays blamed on the absence of replacements.
These claims closely mirror earlier testimonies that detailed how recruits are interviewed for specialised roles at the company’s headquarters, only to be deployed as general workers under probationary contracts that blur job descriptions and working hours.
Once stationed at branches, employees say the promised adherence to labour law fades quickly, replaced by extended shifts, minimal breaks and mandatory holiday work that attracts token compensation later eroded through deductions.
Workers also continue to describe a culture where voicing grievances is actively discouraged, with internal communication channels tightly controlled and discussions shut down once sensitive issues are raised.
Favouritism, they say, determines who gets rest days, lighter duties or transfers closer to home, while others remain stuck in exhausting rotations for months on end.
Taken together, the growing body of testimonies paints a picture of a supermarket chain where pressure flows downwards, accountability flows upwards and employees absorb the cost of keeping operations running.
“Hello Nyakundi. Kindly hide my identity. I am an employee at Magunas and it has not been easy. I am from Kiambu and I have worked at Magunas for about two years as a chief cashier. Salaries range between Ksh 18,000 and Ksh 25,000 even for those who have stayed long. We work from Monday to Sunday, from morning up to 9.30pm, and in 24-hour shops sometimes until 10pm. Many of us go for more than six months without any shift or off day, and even then leave is only given after insisting, with management saying they are still looking for a reliever, a process that can take another month. We are not allowed to express ourselves freely. There is a WhatsApp group, but whenever someone raises an issue, HR quickly responds and shuts the conversation down. Favouritism is common and often depends on who brought you into the company, with some staff eventually getting off days while others work for eight months before demanding leave. One of our biggest problems is with some managers, where refusing personal advances often leads to being reported to headquarters, “kuchomewa” and since they are closely linked to HR, a transfer is issued as punishment. Managers get regular off days every month, but for us there is no one to defend our side. Please help share this.”
