A wholesale and retail business in Bungoma known as Mahadev Drapers is now at the centre of worrying claims about the mistreatment of workers, harassment, and the alleged involvement of local leaders and police in covering up these abuses.
According to a report shared with blogger Cyprian Is Nyakundi, the business, which operates a godown in the Mashambani area, has created a fearful environment for its casual labourers.
The workers, mostly hired on a day-to-day basis, are reportedly forced to hand over their phones every morning and undergo body searches before entering the premises.
These actions, according to those who understand the situation, are meant to prevent any evidence from leaking about what goes on inside the godown.
One whistleblower wrote to Cyprian Is Nyakundi describing how the owner, referred to as Mahadev, physically abuses the workers using a jembe stick. The message also said that the workers are too scared to speak up or report the violence because they believe all the police bosses in Bungoma are on Mahadev’s payroll.
The level of fear is so high that even if authorities were to visit and question the workers, many would stay silent for fear of arrest or other forms of retaliation.
Even more disturbing are the claims that this business is being protected by powerful individuals. The same message claimed that local MCAs, MP Makali, and even the Speaker of the National Assembly are somehow connected to the business, either through bribes or personal benefits like free supplies.
This has led many to believe that the business has created a strong network of influence that shields it from any form of accountability or punishment.
With such backing, victims of abuse have nowhere to turn. People are now demanding that the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection send officers from Nairobi to investigate what is really going on at Mahadev Drapers.
They argue that local labour officials and police are too compromised to do anything. The fear among workers is not just about losing their jobs but also being targeted, jailed, or taken to court on false charges if they speak up. Cyprian Is Nyakundi has been asked to bring attention to this matter because many feel that no one else is willing to help. The case of Mahadev Drapers shows how deep the problem of impunity can run when both political and security systems are compromised, leaving poor Kenyans at the mercy of exploitative employers.
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