Workers from Bhachu Industries Ltd in Nairobi’s Industrial Area have spoken out on what they describe as serious mistreatment, poor working conditions, and labor disputes that affect both casual and permanent employees.
They claim that the company has consistently denied them their rights and created a hostile environment where questioning policies often leads to punishment or dismissal. Many of the grievances center around issues of leave, pay, and safety.
Employees say that annual leave is rarely granted, with most cases being converted into cash at the end of the year.
Requests for paternity leave are not recognized, and anyone pushing for it risks being fired.
Overtime is reportedly paid at a fixed rate regardless of hours worked, and work done on Sundays or public holidays is compensated at the normal rate rather than double as required.
Workers further say that salaries have not been reviewed in more than a decade, leaving casuals stuck on meager daily wages with no chance of improvement.
Another concern raised is the role of the workers’ union, which according to insiders, does not represent their interests. They argue that the union is compromised and follows management orders instead of fighting for employees.
The workers describe a strict hierarchy where managers use intimidation and insults, and questioning policies is treated as defiance. They add that the director and some senior staff openly dismiss workers’ complaints, claiming government institutions cannot touch them.
Safety and health standards are also said to be poor. Workers report receiving protective equipment like helmets, gloves, or boots only occasionally, with some going for months without basic safety gear.
Access to clean drinking water has been inconsistent, and toilet facilities are described as unhygienic. Employees further allege that workplace injuries are managed in a way that prevents proper documentation, limiting chances of compensation.
They are allegedly taken to specific hospitals without paperwork, a move workers see as a tactic to block them from filing claims.
There are also claims of nepotism and favoritism in hiring and work assignments. Workers say multiple family members are employed within the same sections, while groups from particular regions receive preferential treatment.
This has created resentment and worsened divisions among staff. They add that decision-making is tightly controlled, with little room for employees to raise concerns or contribute ideas.
One of the workers described the situation directly, saying:
“Hi Bwana Nyakundi. Hope this finds you well. Kindly hide my ID. Thanks again for your good work. Now I work in a company called Bhachu Industries Ltd located on Enterprise Road near Rubis Fuel Station in Industrial Area Nairobi. It is a Muhindi company that deals with fabrication and manufacturing of tankers, water tanks, closed bodies, flat beds, skeletons, loaders, tippers, car carriers, concrete mixers, trailers, and bulk cement carriers.
Now the exploitation and mistreatment of workers that has been going on in this company is unbelievable. No leave days. You ask for your leave days.
They command you to work. Your leave days will be encashed. If they pay, they will only pay you at the end of the year. You fail to agree. They sack you. Paternity leave. No paternity leave is granted whatsoever. You ask for this. You are fired. Overtime. They only pay overtime at a fixed rate. Holidays and Sundays.
They only pay for hours worked and not double the normal pay. Salary review. The company has never reviewed the salary of the worker for more than ten years. They pay casuals a daily rate. You ask for salary adjustment. You are sacked. Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The workers union is as good as a dead lion. It has been sandwiched. They only follow the instructions of the Muhindis. The committee that represents the workers does not even have a single idea of what they are mandated by the workers to do. They only listen to what the Muhindi says and remain silent. The director who is the son of the late Mzee Bhachu is very rude and arrogant.
He says there is nothing that the Kenyan government can do to him. He says he has put the government of Kenya in his pocket. He assaults and insults workers openly. He does this together with the HR who is also a Muhindi.
Compensation on injuries.
Once an employee gets injured while on duty, they are taken to a hospital in Imara Daima by the name Tender Care Hospital believed to belong to a Muhindi. There is no documentation. They always do this so that no worker can file any case to pursue compensation. If you ask for that again, you are fired. Sanitation.
The situation of the toilets in that company is a disaster. For the last one and a half months, the company has not provided clean drinking water for the workers. Even once you leave the toilets, there is nowhere to find running water to wash your hands.
The working conditions are very bad. All workers do not get the protective gear required such as safety boots, helmets, overalls, hand gloves, and reflectors. The work is very risky and tiresome. They do not care for the workers. This year alone, they only offered one pair of hand gloves to workers and not all received them. There is a lot of tribalism, nepotism, and discrimination. You will find three or four members of the same family working in the same company. You will find fifteen to twenty people from the same village, probably Kitui and Mwingi. Something has to be done. This has to come to an end. We cannot work in such conditions in our own country. This is not India. Feel free to reach me for more. Let us expose this Wahindis. Ukoloni uliisha. The company has approximately 400 workers. More than 200 of them are casual workers. There is also the Lukenya godowns in Machakos.
The situation is almost the same there, though the workers are not as many as the Industrial Area workshop.”
Bhachu Industries employs around 400 workers at its Nairobi plant, with more than half under casual terms, and similar conditions are reported at its Lukenya facilities. How the Ministry of Labour and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services will address these complaints remains uncertain, but the testimonies highlight deep concerns about workers’ rights, safety, and welfare that cannot be ignored.
Add Comment