Kenyan workers prepare men's underwear at the MAS intimates export processing zone (EPZ) limited factory in Athi River Emerging reports have unearthed a recent irregular recruitment process at the MAS Intimates Kenya where corruption, tribalism and nepotism took centre stage.
Speaking to us on Friday, April 29, a source within the Sri Lankan apparel and textile manufacturing firm located in Athi River Export Processing Zone (EPZ) divulged how top officials from the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) headquarters in Nairobi influenced the whole process by compromising greedy recruitment managers into favouring members of certain communities.
Apparently, applicants from the Kamba and Mbeere tribes were given unfair priority over the rest of the candidates.
This mismanaged process was attributed to strong political interests within the government authority where senior staff members want to please their local people at the expense of qualified job seekers. "Hi, Nyakundi, I will be reporting a corrupt company in EPZA. MAS INTIMATES KEMYA company has been calling for mass recruitment on Tuesday and Thursday. Instead of a fair recruiting process, the list is sent from EPZA HEADQUARTERS of pure Kambas and Mberians. The company recruitment manager is commanded by senior staff to recruit their first persons for political interest at their local home and monetary gain. Kambas and Mberians are ferried from their local homes for such posts and the list is endless from January. This is not fair at all, people are quite demoralized and discriminated against because of tribal consideration of people in the office. Anika hii company. Huyo muindi anachukuana anaitwa Shashira. He is controlled by one Kamba and Mbeerian in EPZA office to recruit their people for political gain. Their only home constituency. No disparity at all. Imagine an EPZ company with almost 200 workers from one constituency," the source writes.
MAS Intimates Kenya produces clothing brands such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.
It set shop in Kenya back in 2020 to complement Hela Clothing as the largest apparel and textile manufacturer, investing more than $7 million (Sh770million).
Some of the products that MAS HoldingsKenya has produced so far include sweaters, joggers, zipper jackets, hoodies, t-shirts and shorts. MAS which is the largest single exporter for Sri Lanka has a footprint in 17 countries with a 99,000 global talent pool.