Questions are being raised over the welfare of casual workers at Kitui Flour Mills, a company under the Dola Group, after a complaint shared with Nyakundi Report alleged that employees in the factory’s loading and production sections are working under conditions that expose them to unnecessary health and safety risks.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the company had not publicly responded to the claims at the time the complaint emerged.
According to the whistleblower, the concerns mainly affect casual employees who handle physically demanding work every day.
The complainant claims that while the factory operates three eight-hour shifts to keep production running throughout the day and night, some workers are expected to complete their entire shifts without receiving adequate breaks despite the demanding nature of their duties.
The complaint alleges that employees working in the loading section spend hours lifting and moving heavy materials without being given enough time to rest.
The whistleblower argues that such working conditions place unnecessary strain on workers and may increase the risk of fatigue and workplace injuries.
The complainant believes regular breaks should be part of every shift, especially for employees performing continuous manual labour.
Another issue raised in the complaint concerns access to sanitation facilities.
According to the whistleblower, the factory’s washrooms are allegedly closed from 6.00 p.m., leaving employees assigned to the night shift without access to sanitary facilities for the remainder of their working hours.
The complainant says this forces workers to find other ways of managing their basic biological needs while still carrying out their duties, describing the situation as unfair and undignified.
The whistleblower also claims that workers are not provided with adequate drinking water during their shifts.
Considering the physically demanding nature of the work, the complainant argues that access to clean drinking water should always be available to help employees remain hydrated throughout the day and night.
The complaint states that this is a basic requirement in any workplace where workers are expected to carry out strenuous activities for several hours.
The complaint further alleges that many casual employees do not have the personal protective equipment needed for the work they perform.
According to the whistleblower, some workers continue carrying out their duties without suitable protective gear despite working in an industrial environment where they may be exposed to dust, machinery and other occupational hazards.
The complainant argues that providing appropriate protective equipment should be a priority for every employer.
The workers believe that access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and suitable protective equipment should never be treated as optional.
They argue that these are basic workplace requirements that help protect employees from avoidable risks while allowing them to perform their duties safely and with dignity.
The allegations have also raised concerns about compliance with Kenya’s Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, which requires employers to provide a safe and healthy working environment for employees. If confirmed, the claims could prompt further scrutiny of the working conditions at the factory.
Attention is now likely to turn to the management of Kitui Flour Mills and its parent company, Dola Group, to respond to the allegations and explain the measures currently in place to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers.
The matter may also attract the attention of the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, which is responsible for enforcing workplace safety standards across the country.
In the complaint shared with Nyakundi Report, the whistleblower requested that their identity remain confidential while appealing for the concerns facing casual workers to be made public. The complainant alleged that loading workers do not receive adequate breaks, sanitary facilities are closed from 6.00 p.m., night shift employees have no access to washrooms, drinking water is inadequate, and many workers lack the necessary personal protective equipment.
The allegations are now awaiting a response from the company and any relevant authorities that may choose to investigate the claims.
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