Hello,
Please keep me anonymous.
I saw your Hotpoint Article and it gave me the courage to speak out as well. It's sad that the Kenyan government allows its people to suffer in the hands of foreigners.
Injustices and harassments that you'd never imagine, with a HR department that does not stand up for its people and is oblivious to all the wrong doings. Slaves to the masters as well. senior positions are reserved for Indians of course, some, fresh from outside Kenya with zero knowledge of our labour laws. A HR manager that says "you have to be loyal to the company and not speak ill however disgruntled, we feed you and your families" as if they feed us and our families without us putting in the work like it's charity work.
A HR manager that says there'll be no flexibility in terms of working hours for those furthering their studies or anything of that sort because "there are several hours in a day, figure it out! Or do online /distant learning as if it's the same... With employees being forced to forfeit their lunch breaks so as to leave an hour early to try make it on time for evening classes.
You're told you'll work for six months on probation without major benefits only for the probation to be lengthened without any explanation whatsoever, you slave away to pay your bills as your rights are violated.... Most employees get confirmed after up to 9 months, or you're told you're confirmed with no letter stating the same, ask for it, you're greeted with a smirk.
There's continuous Harassment by a section of Indians who are based in the showrooms, as junior staff you have to pray that they wake up in a good mood as whenever moody, junior staff are lined up and shouted at and spoken to like they're lesser humans with constant threats, like "until salespeople sell a certain amount, no sitting down, no taking breaks, let me not find anyone sitting and eating without selling a specific amount, we are behind the monthly sales target" this you tell to staff who depend on walk ins to sell.
As much as the showroom sales staff have a little retainer, their chances of earning commissions are minimized through setting unbelievable sales targets, they slave away for hours, sometimes 12hours in a day when there are trainings, on their feet to try close sales and meet targets of up to 7 million per person, depending on the showroom... which if you don't attain again, prepare for insults. As employees, you are not supposed to have a voice, or rights, stay silent, work as a Robot, take whatever is thrown at you whilst being reminded of how many people they've interviewed and can replace you in a heartbeat.
I could write all day, but I pray the government will one day intervene. It's a tough situation in Kenya in terms of employment but one day we'll leave, high employee turnover is, after all, something they take pride in.
Thank you for the good job you're doing exposing such Indian companies and general injustices. God bless you. nyakundireport.com says Send cases of workplace mistreatment to hello@nyakundireport.com. Videos and pictures can be sent to WhatsApp 0710 280973.