Workers at Kessbet Kenya, a local betting company operating out of Daykio Plaza, have come forward to report how they are enduring severe exploitation and inhumane conditions, according to testimonies submitted to this outlet.
According to the workers, employees are reportedly required to work from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. six days a week, with only Sundays as their designated rest day.
They claim that despite these prolonged working hours, the basic salary offered stands at Ksh 18,000, which is said to be far lower than what had initially been promised to recruits.
Testimonies shared with us further allege that workers are expected to persuade at least 170 clients daily to deposit Ksh 49 into their betting accounts.
Failure to meet this target reportedly results in harassment and threats from supervisors, with one brown, tall male supervisor repeatedly mentioned in accusations of mistreating female employees who refuse inappropriate advances, thereby contributing to what has been described as a hostile and unsafe working environment.
Workers also reported that the working space at Daykio Plaza is severely overcrowded, with over 100 employees squeezed into a single poorly ventilated room, raising fears about the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis.
The available sanitation facilities are said to be insufficient, with only a few toilets serving all workers and no proper dishwashing areas, posing additional health risks.
Information relayed to us indicates that delays in salary payments and the meagre income have driven some employees into desperate survival tactics.
According to these reports, some workers allegedly resort to seducing clients or asking them for money during calls in order to meet their basic needs.
Sources have also accused a Chinese supervisor of exerting extreme pressure on workers by imposing unrealistic daily targets, further worsening the already tense working environment.
Those who attempt to raise grievances reportedly face immediate dismissal without any formal disciplinary processes being observed.
Workers also claim that customers are misled with non-existent bonus offers.
Once customers deposit the Ksh 49, it is said that they are unable to retrieve the funds, which reportedly end up benefitting the company’s top leadership.
According to the testimonies, many employees who dared to speak up against these alleged injustices have found themselves dismissed.
Workers described the situation inside Kessbet Kenya as exploitative and degrading, particularly for young women who joined the company with hopes of finding honest employment.
Those who reached out to this outlet are appealing to labour authorities, human rights agencies, and the media to urgently intervene and investigate the claims of exploitation at Kessbet Kenya.
“Hi Nyakundi. I am writing to raise serious concerns about the inhumane working conditions and unethical practices happening at Kessbet Kenya, located at Daykio Plaza.
Workers are forced to work from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., six days a week, with only one off day (Sunday). Despite these extreme hours, they are paid a basic salary of Ksh 18,000 — much lower than the amount promised in their contracts. Employees are required to convince at least 170 clients daily to deposit Ksh 49 into their accounts. Failure to meet this unrealistic target leads to constant harassment and threats, especially from a brown, tall male supervisor who is known for abusing his position. He mistreats female workers who reject his inappropriate advances, creating a toxic and unsafe environment.
The working space in Daykio Plaza is extremely overcrowded — more than 100 workers are squeezed into a single room with very poor ventilation. This raises serious health concerns, especially with contagious diseases like tuberculosis and COVID-19 still being a threat. The few toilets available are dirty and inadequate for the number of staff, and there are no proper sinks for washing dishes, exposing workers to even more health hazards.
Because of poor and delayed salaries, many workers have been driven to desperate measures just to survive. There are growing cases of some workers seducing customers or asking them for money directly during calls. It is heartbreaking to see that poverty and mistreatment have forced young people, many of them women, into such degrading situations simply to afford basic needs.
Adding to this, a Chinese supervisor aggressively pushes impossible targets, making the working environment even more unbearable. Workers who try to raise concerns about these abuses are immediately terminated without following any legal procedures.
It is even more disturbing that customers are deceived daily. They are promised bonuses that do not exist, and once they deposit their Ksh 49, they cannot withdraw it — the money benefits only the company’s top management.
Many employees have lost their jobs simply because they dared to speak out. Kessbet Kenya has become a place of exploitation, greed, and human rights violations. It is hell on earth, especially for the many young women who came seeking honest employment but found themselves trapped in abuse and deceit.
I sincerely urge the relevant authorities, labour organizations, and media outlets to urgently intervene and save the workers suffering at Kessbet Kenya.”
These allegations come at a time when the country is grappling with what many experts and observers have described as a growing gambling pandemic, where betting companies have increasingly been accused of exploiting vulnerable populations through aggressive marketing and manipulative tactics.
Recent investigations have shed light on popular online betting games such as “Aviator” and other platforms that have been cited for preying on desperate young Kenyans and even older citizens, many of whom find themselves trapped in cycles of debt and addiction.
At the same time, there has been heightened scrutiny around the ownership structures behind numerous betting companies, with revelations that several politicians and well-connected figures are the true proprietors behind some of these firms.
Meet Aaron Cheruiyot, the Man Who Collects Kenya’s Betting Billions.
Critics argue that weak regulatory enforcement has allowed these companies to thrive with minimal accountability, contributing to a crisis that continues to devastate thousands of Kenyan families.
The claims against Kessbet arrive against this broader backdrop of alleged exploitation and regulatory failure, reinforcing calls for urgent reforms to protect both workers and consumers from predatory business models in the gambling industry.
