Fresh concerns have emerged from inside Artcaffe Coffee & Bakery after employees accused some members of the company's senior management of creating a workplace where junior staff allegedly face harassment, intimidation and retaliation for speaking out.
According to a whistleblower, many employees feel trapped because they believe there is no independent channel through which they can report workplace grievances without fear of victimisation.
The complainant claims that when junior employees experience harassment from supervisors or managers, their only formal avenue for lodging complaints is the Human Resources department. However, some workers believe their concerns are not handled impartially, leaving many afraid to report misconduct.
According to the whistleblower, employees who question management decisions or defend colleagues allegedly risk being transferred, demoted or eventually dismissed.
The complainant cites the recent case of a colleague who was allegedly transferred and demoted after questioning why a manager was mistreating one of the stewards. Workers claim such incidents have created a culture of fear where many employees remain silent rather than risk losing their jobs.
The employees also say salary concerns remain unresolved.
According to the complaint, workers welcomed the salary adjustments introduced in July after public attention was drawn to previous concerns at the company. However, they claim no meaningful progress has been made since then, leaving many employees feeling that deeper workplace issues remain unresolved.
Several workers argue that while statutory deductions continue to be made from their salaries, they expect the same commitment from management when it comes to ensuring fair treatment, career progression and a safe working environment.
Employees say they are not asking for special treatment but for a workplace where grievances can be raised without fear of retaliation and where disciplinary measures are applied fairly and consistently.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about working conditions at Artcaffe. In an earlier complaint by employees, workers alleged workplace harassment, poor management practices and salary concerns, prompting widespread public discussion about employee welfare within the restaurant chain. The renewed complaints suggest some employees believe underlying workplace issues remain unresolved.
Similar concerns have also been raised within Kenya's hospitality industry. Former employees of Tha Nickolee Hotel in Nanyuki alleged a toxic work environment, intimidation and unfair labour practices, with one former employee claiming he was unfairly dismissed and later faced criminal charges that were eventually dismissed in court. Those allegations renewed calls for stronger enforcement of labour protections within the hospitality sector.
Comparable complaints have emerged from Asyana Gardens, where employees alleged delayed salaries, unlawful deductions and poor workplace conduct by management. Workers claimed they were denied payslips, questioned unexplained deductions and accused management of failing to honour agreed employment terms. Those concerns added to growing scrutiny over employment practices in parts of Kenya's hospitality and service industries.
Labour experts note that Kenya's Employment Act protects employees from unfair labour practices and provides mechanisms for addressing workplace grievances. They argue that employers should maintain grievance procedures that allow staff to report concerns without fear of intimidation, retaliation or victimisation.
The affected employees are now appealing to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Directorate of Labour, and other relevant authorities to examine the concerns raised, review the company's internal grievance handling procedures and establish whether employees are able to raise workplace complaints freely and without fear.
Below is part of the complaint received.
Hello Cyprian, kindly hide my ID. I work at Artcaffe Coffee and Bakery, and I want the public, the Ministry of Labour, and the government to know what we are going through. Our senior staff are harassing junior employees, and we have nowhere to report them because HR is our only option, and they seem to be working together. If you try to speak up, they transfer you, demote you, and later remove you. Recently, they did this to a friend simply because they asked a manager why she was oppressing one of the stewards. Our salaries are taxed accordingly, but the issue of salary increments was only addressed once, in July, after you exposed them last time. Thank you. This is the message I would like you to expose. Personally, I appreciate you. At least when you expose these issues, they make changes and create a safer environment for people to work, just like they did the last time. Thank you, and God bless you."