Casual workers dismissed by Coca-Cola’s Kisumu plant last week have taken to the streets, demanding answers and justice from the company. Alleging unfair treatment and arbitrary dismissals, the workers staged demonstrations on Monday, January 20, calling on Kisumu County’s top leadership to intervene in their plight.
Led by David Otieno, the protesters accused the company of tribalism, claiming that their positions were filled by individuals ferried from Nairobi, leaving local workers jobless. The workers further alleged that the management misled them, citing a “reshuffling process” as the reason for termination—an explanation they dismissed as baseless.
“This company should be moved to Nairobi since they prioritize hiring people from there instead of supporting locals,” said Otieno, visibly frustrated during the protests.
Claims of Discrimination and Intimidation
The workers voiced deep concerns about tribal bias within the company, alleging that most dismissals targeted members of the Luo community. George Okello, one of the affected workers, called on Kisumu County leaders to intervene, stating, “The management is replacing us with workers from other regions. We will not allow this nonsense to continue.”
An anonymous source within the company revealed that over 10 contracts have been terminated unfairly in recent weeks. According to the source, Coca-Cola’s top leadership has created a hostile work environment rife with intimidation and threats.
Compensation Fund Sparks Controversy
The source also claimed that Coca-Cola has allocated Ksh. 30 million to compensate workers who might win court cases against the company. However, they alleged the fund is being misused to suppress legitimate grievances.
“Is this fund a tool to sack innocent workers without accountability? It’s a disgrace,” the source remarked.
Calls for Action
The workers accused the company of sidelining their grievances and politicizing employment practices. They now demand immediate intervention from Kisumu County leaders to address the alleged injustices and prevent further exploitation of local workers.
With growing unrest, all eyes are on the county government to address the escalating crisis at Coca-Cola’s Kisumu plant.
