Victory Farms Ltd, a sustainable aquaculture business located near Kenya’s Lake Victoria, has been exposed following allegations of widespread employee mistreatment.
The company, which focuses on producing tilapia for low-income communities, is now facing claims of exploitation, unethical practices, and disregard for labor regulations.
According to multiple sources within the company, employees are subjected to extremely long working hours, often exceeding ten hours per day, with minimal compensation.
Workers are reportedly paid meager wages, sometimes as low as Ksh. 7,000 (about USD 48) per month, despite generating significant revenue for the company.
These women, who process up to 50 metric tons of fish daily, produce sales amounting to Ksh.
18 million (about USD 120,000) in a single day.
Despite these earnings, the staff receives no overtime benefits, and promises of commissions are frequently undercut by unreasonable deductions, leaving them struggling to meet basic needs.
Sales staff are also impacted, working more than ten hours a day, seven days a week, without rest or adequate compensation.
This team is responsible for generating millions in revenue, but their monthly wages barely exceed Ksh. 10,000 (about USD 69), with commissions often subject to arbitrary deductions.
The lack of job security adds to their precarious situation, as many of these employees work under annual contracts, which are renewed at the discretion of the company’s CEO, a Nigerian national.
These contracts offer no certainty of continued employment, and the threat of termination looms large for many workers.
One of the most troubling aspects of the allegations is the preferential treatment given to foreign senior management.
Many key roles at Victory Farms are reportedly filled by expatriates from West Africa and other regions, often sidelining qualified Kenyan workers.
Positions such as head of security, head of projects, and head of IT are allegedly held by foreign nationals, despite there being no apparent need for international expertise in these areas.
This practice has raised questions about the company’s commitment to supporting the local workforce and adhering to Kenyan labor laws.
Furthermore, the foreign senior management is accused of engaging in unethical business practices that harm the local market.
Victory Farms reportedly acts as a supplier, distributor, and retailer within the same market, effectively monopolizing the tilapia trade and depriving local market women of business opportunities.
The company’s pricing strategy has also come under fire, with critics accusing Victory Farms of raising prices regularly, despite its public claims of affordability.
This has had a detrimental impact on market women who depend on the fish trade for their livelihoods.
The company’s internal culture has also been called into question, with reports of a high turnover rate and a hostile work environment.
Recently, 20 female employees were allegedly dismissed over a minor uniform dispute, a situation that could have been resolved through more constructive dialogue.
Disciplinary cases within the company are often handled by the CEO, head of security, and HR manager, the latter two being a married couple, which raises concerns about conflicts of interest and the fairness of the disciplinary process.
Victory Farms has yet to publicly address these allegations, but the growing discontent among its workforce highlights serious issues in the company’s operations.
Many employees fear for their jobs, while others are disheartened by the favoritism shown to expatriates.
The company’s reputation as a social venture aimed at empowering communities is being severely undermined.
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