Former workers engaged by Karl Jays Consultancy have raised concerns over what they describe as prolonged delays in the payment of wages, saying they are yet to receive their earnings nearly four months after completing the work they were contracted to perform.
According to a whistleblower, the consultancy, which is headed by Dr. Jerry Okal, has repeatedly failed to pay workers despite the assignment having ended months ago.
The affected workers say they have made numerous attempts to follow up on their payments but have not received a clear commitment on when they will be paid.
According to the complainant, every inquiry about the outstanding wages is allegedly met with threats or references to clauses contained in the contract instead of straightforward communication about when payment will be made.
Workers say they have consistently been told that the client has not released payment or that the client is requesting additional financial documentation before funds can be processed.
The complainant says those explanations have been repeated for months without any indication of when the workers will finally receive the money they earned.
Many of the affected workers say they accepted the assignment in good faith and completed their responsibilities within the agreed timelines, expecting that payment would follow shortly after the project ended.
Instead, they now find themselves struggling to meet daily expenses, pay rent and support their families while waiting for wages they believe are long overdue.
The workers argue that if there is a genuine dispute between the consultancy and its client, employees and consultants who have already delivered their work should not be left bearing the financial burden without clear communication or timelines.
Their appeal comes amid growing complaints across Kenya from workers and consultants who say delayed payments are becoming increasingly common.
Similar concerns have recently been raised by employees at Casa Marketing Solutions, where workers complained of persistent salary delays that allegedly left many unable to pay rent or meet basic household needs. Comparable complaints have also emerged from organisations including ICS Technical College and Family Health Options Kenya, where former employees said they waited months for salaries or terminal dues after completing their work. Those cases have renewed calls for stronger enforcement of labour laws requiring timely payment of workers.
Labour experts have repeatedly warned that delayed wages and prolonged uncertainty can amount to unfair labour practices, particularly where workers continue to shoulder financial hardship despite having fulfilled their contractual obligations.
The affected workers are now appealing to the State Department for Labour and Skills Development and the Directorate of Labour to investigate the matter, establish why payment has allegedly been delayed and ensure workers receive the wages they earned.
Below is part of the complaint received.
Kindly assist us by highlighting this matter. We worked for a consultancy company called Karl Jays, headed by Dr. Jerry Okal, and it has now been almost four months since we completed our work, yet we have not been paid our wages.
Whenever we ask for our money, we are met with threats and reminded of the terms in the contract instead of being given clear answers. We have repeatedly been told that the client has not paid, or that the client is requesting additional financial documents. These explanations have continued for months, but there has been no payment or definite timeline. Many of us are going through financial hardship because of this delay. We are simply asking to be paid for the work we completed and to receive honest communication about the situation.
Kindly keep my identity confidential for fear of victimization. Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.