Cyprian Is Nyakundi, a prominent activist and blogger known for exposing corporate injustices, has brought to light the alarming exploitation of workers at Shadrack and Sons Limited, a steel company located on Enterprise Road, Nairobi.
The revelations paint a grim picture of systemic abuse, ranging from unlawful pay deductions to fraudulent manipulation of overtime records, under the management of Hezron Nyamboki.
Workers have been left voiceless and vulnerable, with their grievances falling on deaf ears within the company’s management structure.
According to information shared with Nyakundi by an anonymous source, casual laborers at the company are paid Ksh. 400 for day shifts and Ksh. 600 for night shifts an amount many describe as meager, given the demanding and often hazardous nature of the work.
Workers are further subjected to pay deductions without justification, particularly during machine breakdowns, which are not their fault.
The source specifically accused Nyamboki of mercilessly cutting wages even when breakdowns are recorded in the production books, revealing a complete disregard for fairness.
The source also highlighted shocking instances of delayed or denied injury compensation.
Employees who have suffered permanent injuries have reportedly had to endure lengthy and unnecessary delays before receiving any form of compensation if they receive it at all.
Such delays, coupled with the company’s apparent lack of concern for workers’ well-being, have left many feeling abandoned and exploited.
Perhaps most alarming are the allegations surrounding the treatment of resigning employees.
According to the whistleblower, Nyamboki often fabricates accusations of poor character or misconduct against employees who resign, ensuring they leave without their rightful service pay.
One former employee who resigned last month is now reportedly being falsely implicated in the loss of goods worth thousands of shillings, exceeding their service pay.
Nyamboki has allegedly bragged about his ability to ensure that departing workers leave with nothing, underscoring the toxic environment at Shadrack and Sons Limited.The rot does not end there.
For contracted workers, overtime pay is reportedly calculated at 1% instead of the legally mandated 1.5%.
Even worse, Nyamboki is accused of altering overtime records to reduce payments.
For example, if a worker earns Ksh. 5000 in overtime, the manager allegedly slashes it to Ksh. 2500 or Ksh. 3000.
Employees who dare question these deductions are immediately labeled enemies, creating a culture of fear and intimidation.
Nyakundi’s exposé sheds much-needed light on these abuses, urging authorities and labor rights organizations to intervene.
The anonymous source expressed hope that bringing these issues to the public’s attention would lead to reforms and justice for the workers.
However, unless action is taken, the systemic exploitation at Shadrack and Sons Limited is likely to persist, leaving employees trapped in a cycle of unfair treatment and financial insecurity.
This case exemplifies the broader issue of labor rights violations in Kenya’s industrial sector, where workers often endure unsafe conditions, inadequate pay, and managerial abuse.
It is now up to the relevant authorities to investigate these claims and ensure that companies like Shadrack and Sons Limited are held accountable for their actions.
Without decisive action, many other workers in similar situations may continue to suffer in silence.
