Fresh concerns have emerged from workers at Kitui Flour Mills, a company under the Dola Group, with employees alleging poor working conditions that they say expose casual workers to unnecessary health and safety risks.
According to the whistleblower, the complaints mainly affect casual employees working in the loading and production sections of the factory.
The complainant says the plant operates on three eight-hour shifts, with workers expected to perform physically demanding duties throughout their shifts.
According to the whistleblower, employees in the loading section allegedly work for the entire eight-hour shift without adequate breaks despite the physically intensive nature of the job.
The complainant further alleges that the factory's sanitary facilities are closed at 6.00 p.m., leaving employees working the night shift without access to washrooms for the remainder of their shift.
Workers say they are forced to find ways of managing basic biological needs while still on duty, a situation they describe as degrading and unacceptable in a modern workplace.
The whistleblower also claims that workers are not provided with adequate drinking water during their shifts, despite operating in conditions that involve strenuous manual labour.
According to the complainant, some employees also lack appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the work they perform.
The workers argue that access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and suitable protective gear should not be optional, particularly in an industrial setting where employees are exposed to occupational hazards.
The complainant believes the reported conditions are inconsistent with the standards expected under Kenya's Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, which places duties on employers to provide a safe and healthy working environment.
The concerns now place responsibility on the management of Kitui Flour Mills and its parent company, Dola Group, to respond to the allegations and explain the measures in place to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees.
The matter may also warrant the attention of the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS) under the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, whose inspectors are responsible for enforcing workplace safety standards.
Below is the complaint received.
Hello Cypii. Kindly hide my identity.
Please expose what workers at Kitui Flour Mills under Dola Group are going through, especially casual workers in the loading and production sections.
The factory operates three eight-hour shifts. Loading workers do not get breaks; the sanitary rooms are closed from 6.00 p.m., leaving night shift workers without washrooms. There is no drinking water, and many workers do not have PPE. The situation is really bad.