Rapidly expanding distributor in Kenya’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Gilanis Distributors Ltd, has drawn renewed attention as reports indicate that labor and managerial conditions within the company have worsened, exposing weaknesses in workplace governance and employee welfare.
While the firm had previously been criticized for high turnover among managerial staff and a reportedly toxic human resources culture, new accounts suggest that the challenges experienced by frontline employees, particularly sales representatives, have developed into systemic and pervasive operational failures.
Sources within the company describe an environment in which salary determinations appear increasingly arbitrary, with remuneration often contingent not on contractual agreements or measurable performance but on the subjective discretion of senior management.
Sales personnel report that their monthly earnings are often minimal, with allowances intended for overnight duties reduced to levels that barely cover basic living expenses.
Incentive structures tied to partnerships with major brands are reportedly being withheld or misappropriated, denying employees the performance-based rewards that form a core component of compensation in the sector.
Operational protocols are said to be inconsistent and poorly enforced, creating a climate of uncertainty and vulnerability for staff tasked with customer engagement and product delivery.
Employees indicate that they are penalized for addressing issues such as expired or damaged stock, with management explicitly denying accountability for customer complaints or product quality concerns once goods leave the warehouse.
Such punitive measures reportedly extend to arbitrary deductions from wages, the cancellation of leave or off days, and systemic disregard for logistical failures that impede the ability to execute work effectively.
At the helm of this culture, sources identify the executive leadership, including CEO Faiz Gilani, National Sales Manager Charles Momanyi, Chief Revenue Officer Edward, and Abdul Ghani, as central figures in a hierarchical structure described as authoritarian and exploitative.
Employees allege that dissent is met with intimidation, threats, or blacklisting, and that institutional channels for redress, including labor courts and claims processes, are manipulated or obstructed to prevent resolution.
The ramifications of these practices extend beyond the immediate workforce.
Reports suggest that clients and consumers are affected by lapses in product quality control, delayed deliveries, and inflexible return policies, reflecting operational deficiencies that undermine both service standards and brand credibility.
“Hello Sir. Thank you for giving us this space once again. Remember sometime back I brought an issue to you about Gilani’s Distribution. Well, that was only the beginning of the worst. Allow me to share the reality as it is today. What started as a small concern has now turned into a nightmare for sales reps working under Gilani’s Distribution. Working tirelessly for a whole month, only for someone to decide what to pay you as they please, sometimes as low as Kshs. 21,000. You can’t ask why, you can’t question it. Every month, salaries are handed out based on how the boss “feels,” not on your effort or agreed terms. Picture this. Spending nights cramped in your probox because “night-out allowances” are slashed to a shocking Kshs. 1,800 for an entire week, barely enough for food, let alone decent rest. Missing out on incentives from top brands like Grain Industries because management pockets them instead of rewarding the hardworking sales team. It gets worse. Staff are punished for defending customers who receive expired or damaged goods, because according to the company, once products are dispatched and the customer receives them, “it’s no longer our business.” They refuse to be accountable for complaints, expired stock, or damaged goods, leaving both customers and reps helpless. Salaries are deducted without any reasonable explanation, most times simply because a customer decided to return damaged goods, or worse, because a sales rep dared to raise a complaint about product quality. Instead of support, you face punishment. Off days and leave days are canceled. Logistics are broken. Delivery is rude and unreliable. Products are sometimes expired or near expiry, forced on reps with a “no returns” policy. And at the center of it all, a toxic leadership culture led by Faiz Gilani (CEO) and his close circle: Charles Momanyi (National Sales Manager), Edward (Chief Revenue Officer), and Abdul Ghani, arrogant bosses who thrive on exploiting workers instead of empowering them. Employees are silenced, threatened, and blacklisted from opportunities with other companies. Courts, claims get dismissed before they’re even heard. To KEBS and the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Affairs, if you want more information, we have all the evidence together with workers who are willing to spill the beans. This isn’t just bad business. This is modern-day corporate oppression.”
The emerging narrative paints a portrait of an organization in which managerial strategy and corporate culture appear misaligned with both statutory labor protections and the ethical norms expected of prominent market players.
As these conditions persist, there is a growing imperative for regulatory oversight and intervention from institutions such as the Ministry of Labour and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), whose mandates encompass employee rights, workplace safety, and product quality assurance.
It remains to be seen how long authorities and company leadership will continue to ignore the plight of employees, allowing abuses to persist unchecked while those who have the power to act remain inert, leaving staff to bear the full weight of exploitation and systemic neglect.
We will continue to closely monitor developments at Gilanis Distributors Ltd, tracking both internal reforms and the responses of regulatory bodies to the mounting reports of workplace abuse.
In the meantime, we urge current and former employees to come forward and share their experiences, so that a better picture of the working conditions can be documented and addressed.
These testimonies will form the basis of ongoing reporting and investigation, allowing both the public and relevant authorities to gain a clearer understanding of the scale and severity of workplace abuses at Gilanis Distributors Ltd.
This outlet remains committed to giving workers a platform to speak without fear of retaliation, and to holding both company leadership and regulatory agencies accountable for the conditions that continue to undermine employee welfare and dignity.
