By MKT Correspondent
Employees at Panari Resort Nyahururu have formally reached out to the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) to address the delayed distribution of their monthly service charge, which is typically scheduled for the 15th of each month.
According to the union’s letter dated 29th October 2024, the resort workers noted that they had not received the September service charge, a benefit stipulated under Clause 21 of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) and KUDHEIHA, as well as Section 18 of the Employment Act, 2007.
The letter, addressed to the resort’s human resource manager, urges timely payment to prevent disruption for staff who depend on the service charge for their financial obligations.
“We therefore would like to request your office to expedite payment of monthly service charge in due time in order for our members to fulfill their own financial obligations,” it states.
In addition to the formal grievance submitted to KUDHEIHA, sources among Panari Resort Nyahururu employees have raised further accusations regarding deteriorating workplace conditions under current management.
Staff members, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal, allege that the arrival of an Indian accountant, Dilip Kumar, and Operations Manager, Sanchin Kumar resulted in increasingly hostile and unsatisfactory working conditions.
According to these accounts, the staff claims that Kumar has introduced stringent policies that affect their daily welfare.
“Since he joined, even our basic breakfast has been compromised. Bread is something we’ve always had is no longer provided,” one source lamented, referring to the removal of bread from staff meals — which has been a staple since the resort’s opening in 2016.
The staff members also claim that the quality of other provisions like tea has greatly declined.
They contend that these changes have left them feeling demoralized and overlooked.
“Our working environment has become very uncomfortable. It’s no longer just about delayed service charges. It’s about respect and decency in how we are treated,” another worker remarked.
Beyond the alleged mistreatment of lower-level staff, the situation has reportedly created a climate of fear among junior managers.
Without the protection of union representation, these managers often find themselves hit by verbal reprimands and tense meetings where “tables are banged” in display of authority.
“Junior managers are shouted at during meetings but they have no union to back them up,” a staff member shared, explaining why many are reluctant to voice concerns openly.
Insiders report that two senior accountants have resigned in recent months, reportedly unable to work under the new regime, with numerous other employees actively seeking alternative employment.
“It’s only a matter of time before more staff leave. People are already looking for jobs elsewhere,” added an employee.
Although the union, through KUDHEIHA, has appealed to Panari Resort management to address the delayed service charge payments as a first step toward restoring trust and improving staff morale, many employees feel that focusing solely on financial issues without addressing the broader concerns around workplace culture and management practices will be insufficient.
Suleiman Mbatiah