Frontline workers at Kevian Kenya Limited say the daily reality inside the factory has become difficult, unfair, and mentally draining. They feel the company is drifting away from treating employees equally, and the gap between those doing the heavy work and those in higher positions is growing wider with time.
Their frustrations have been building for months, but recent decisions by management seem to have pushed many of them to a point where they feel compelled to speak out.
One of the main issues they raise is the selective salary increase that was introduced last month. Supervisors, managers, operators, and quality controllers received new pay adjustments, with some getting up to KSh 10,000 more.
But those in production, loading, hygiene, and maintenance say they were excluded without a clear explanation.
They were told that their workload did not qualify them for a raise, something they say is completely untrue given the long hours and physical effort required to keep the company’s juice, water, and soft drink products moving through the production line.
This decision left many feeling ignored despite carrying out essential tasks every day.Concerns about overtime have also added to the frustration.
Workers report that the Production Manager, identified as Mbogo, has introduced strict Saturday rules that require employees to remain within the company from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. even when there is no work happening.
They say guards are instructed not to allow workers to leave in case new orders come in. As a result, employees spend hours sitting around with nothing to do yet still have no control over their time. They described these weekends as wasteful and stressful, especially because the overtime hours they submit often do not reach the human resources office.
According to staff, the manager sometimes refuses to submit the forms, and even when he does, they cannot confirm whether the recorded hours are accurate.
This has created what they describe as a system that denies them their rightful pay.
The workers also mention that Mbogo has, on some occasions, instructed employees to return to work after 7 p.m. on Saturdays without proper notice. They feel this shows a lack of respect for their personal time and family responsibilities.
They also recall a previous incident where the same manager was accused of taking a female employee’s belongings. Instead of facing serious discipline, he was reportedly sent on a one-month leave while the woman lost her job.
Another major concern involves meal breaks. Workers say they are given only 20 minutes for lunch, yet at the end of the day, management deducts a full hour from their pay.
They feel rushed and pressured to finish their meals quickly under close supervision. There are now plans to begin deducting extra time for tea or cocoa breaks as well, which would reduce their paid working hours even further and lower their already strained monthly earnings of about KSh 17,000.To show how difficult these conditions have become, one employee shared his story, explaining that the mood at the factory is filled with frustration and helplessness.
Many workers feel trapped between low wages, strict rules, unfair deductions, and overtime systems that do not protect them. They say all they want is fair treatment, reasonable management, and a working environment where their efforts are recognised rather than dismissed.
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