- Over 200 Nanyuki flower farm workers protested over alleged unfair dismissals and poor working conditions.
- Workers accused the management of harassment, unpaid overtime and unsafe working conditions.
- They urged the Ministry of Labour to intervene as local leaders called for dialogue.
More than 200 workers at a privately owned horticultural farm in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, staged a peaceful protest on July 28, alleging unfair dismissals, poor working conditions and workplace harassment.
The protest disrupted operations at the farm with workers accusing the management of unfairly terminating some of their colleagues. They also raised concerns over inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), demanding safer working conditions and more realistic production targets.
Speaking during the demonstration, workers’ representative Menyamale Kengau said employees had exhausted all available avenues to resolve their grievances before resorting to industrial action.
“We went on strike because of firing people without reason, harassing people, and making us work beyond our contracted hours,” said Kengau.
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He claimed that agreements reached during previous meetings with local administrators had not been implemented. According to Kengau, workers had been assured that no one would be dismissed before appearing before the committee to defend themselves, but that commitment was never honoured.
Former security guard Silokoro, who said he was among ten security officers whose employment was terminated, claimed that local workers were being replaced by employees from other regions.
Workers in the pack house also alleged that they were subjected to unrealistic production targets, verbal abuse and long working hours without overtime compensation.
A quality control officer alleged that employees assigned to export flower orders worked under intense pressure despite earning the same wages as their colleagues. She also claimed that workers frequently stayed late into the night without receiving additional compensation.
“We even leave at 1:00 AM, midnight, or 11:00 PM. We aren’t paid overtime. I work and get paid the same as a farm labourer,” she said.
Addressing the protesters, area Member of County Assembly (MCA) Salim Edung urged the workers to remain calm. He assured them that their grievances would be resolved through dialogue and praised them for conducting a peaceful demonstration.
The workers urged the Ministry of Labour and other relevant government agencies to step in and help resolve the dispute.
By Frank Mugwe
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