KEDA Ceramics’ Miwani factory in Kisumu is facing serious accusations from its workers. According to reports shared by Cyprian Nyakundi, employees say they are overworked, underpaid, and treated unfairly.
They work 12-hour shifts but are only paid for 195 hours per month instead of the 225 hours they actually work. Many also complain of racial discrimination and mistreatment by supervisors.
Those who try to speak out are threatened with being fired, and management does not take their complaints seriously because they know people are desperate for jobs.
Now, the company is accused of trying to hide these problems from ISO inspectors who are scheduled to visit soon. Workers say they have been given company-branded T-shirts and told to wear them during the inspection days.
Some employees have been trained to lie to the inspectors, saying they are paid well and work under good conditions. Others have been warned to remain silent or risk losing their jobs. Management has even issued a memo instructing resident workers not to hang their clothes outside from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on the inspection days to make their living areas look neat and organized.
In addition, the company has quickly built new dining structures to create the illusion that workers receive proper lunch breaks. Workers, however, say they are often denied these breaks.
During the inspection, employees have been told to eat in shifts in these new areas so that it appears they are always given time for lunch. Specific workers have been selected to stand along the inspection route, instructed to smile and remain quiet to give the impression of a happy workforce.
One worker, speaking anonymously, reached out to Cyprian Nyakundi and described the deception in detail. He explained how employees are being forced to take part in this cover-up and warned that those who refuse to cooperate will be fired.
He also shared the memo restricting them from hanging clothes outside, which he believes is part of the plan to mislead the inspectors. Workers are now calling for an independent and unannounced assessment by the ISO team. They want the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, COTU, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), and the county labour offices to investigate the factory.
They are also asking for wage records to be audited, worker testimonies to be collected anonymously, and labour laws to be enforced.
Additionally, they are urging the Senate and the Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) to investigate the company’s alleged threats and coercion. Labour rights groups and civil society organizations are also being called upon to push for accountability. The workers insist that proper action must be taken to improve their conditions rather than allowing the factory to stage a fake inspection.
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