China Square’s Kisumu branch, a Ksh500 million mega store at Ring Road’s Mega City, is facing intense public backlash following allegations of worker mistreatment. Employees accuse a senior manager of intimidation, unlawful dismissals, and tribal bias in hiring.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, workers claim that the manager—a woman in a senior role—has been issuing threats, firing employees from a particular ethnic group, and replacing them with individuals from her own community.
These accusations have ignited widespread outrage, particularly among Kisumu residents, who have taken to China Square’s social media pages to condemn what they see as discriminatory hiring practices that violate Kenya’s labor laws.
Management Denies Claims as Public Outrage Grows
In response to the allegations, China Square’s management issued a statement dismissing the claims as “rumors and misinformation,” insisting that recent staffing changes were part of a standard restructuring process to improve efficiency.
“We have conducted a thorough investigation into recent allegations and wish to address the rumors surrounding our Kisumu store. To enhance operational efficiency, we recently carried out staff reorganization, which included some layoffs,” the company stated.
According to the notice, the Kisumu branch employs 115 workers, with over 70% being locals. The management reiterated that the company prioritizes local hires and strictly adheres to labor laws.
Despite this clarification, public skepticism remains high. Popular Kisumu social media personality Komuono (Ja’Nyakach) dismissed the company’s response, challenging the alleged manager to personally address the accusations in public.
“This notice is not clear. Can the Kalenjin lady please come read it for us in Kondele?” he wrote in a viral comment.
As online criticism intensifies, pressure is mounting on China Square to respond more decisively to the allegations and restore public confidence in its employment practices.
