By Boniface Mwangi #TEAMCOURAGE
400 employees of Bidco Africa in Thika had their employment unfairly terminated. I am Evans Nyachae Mose, and I am their representative and one of those who lost his job. Mr. Vimal Shah, owner of Bidco Africa, dared us to take any action we so wished. In his arrogance he stated that he is a close friend of the President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, therefore, no one can do anything to him. We held a protest to make our grievance known but we were branded as 'Chokoras' (Street urchins) and imposters paid to tarnish his name. This issue was mentioned in parliament last week. Mr. Vimal has the police at his beck and call; therefore any further attempts to protest have been met by immediate police harassment.
400 employees of Bidco Africa in Thika had their employment unfairly terminated. I am Evans Nyachae Mose, and I am their representative and one of those who lost his job. Mr. Vimal Shah, owner of Bidco Africa, dared us to take any action we so wished. In his arrogance he stated that he is a close friend of the President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, therefore, no one can do anything to him. We held a protest to make our grievance known but we were branded as 'Chokoras' (Street urchins) and imposters paid to tarnish his name. This issue was mentioned in parliament last week. Mr. Vimal has the police at his beck and call; therefore any further attempts to protest have been met by immediate police harassment.
Some of the on going daily challenges by the staff at Bidco Africa include:
- A forced bribe of Ksh. 10,000, given to Mr. Ketan Patel and Mr. Samwel Mbari in order to have the contract term renewed. Failure means immediate dismissal.
- A change of contracts that has seen more than 600 workers in the last six months forfeit their claims of benefits, and become casual workers in order to retain employment. The result is that the rise of the number of those dismissed to about 1200.
- New applicants must give a bribe of not less than Ksh. 5000 to Mr. Ketan and Mr. Mbari in order to be considered for employment.
- Employees found with mobile phones in the company are dismissed or made to give a bribe of ksh. 2000 in order to keep their job.
- An immediate warning letter meets absenteeism, cause notwithstanding. However, this warning can be deleted from record, at a bribe of Ksh. 2000/-
- A change of contracts that has seen more than 600 workers in the last six months forfeit their claims of benefits, and become casual workers in order to retain employment. The result is that the rise of the number of those dismissed to about 1200.
- New applicants must give a bribe of not less than Ksh. 5000 to Mr. Ketan and Mr. Mbari in order to be considered for employment.
- Employees found with mobile phones in the company are dismissed or made to give a bribe of ksh. 2000 in order to keep their job.
- An immediate warning letter meets absenteeism, cause notwithstanding. However, this warning can be deleted from record, at a bribe of Ksh. 2000/-
Despite Mr. Vimal Shah calling us hooligans, chokoras, and impostors, the fact remains that we had worked for Vimal's company for over 23 years as casual workers. We ask the human rights groups to assist us access justice. Vimal’s response to any claims has a standard answer; ‘anasema atalipa akikufa’ – He says he will pay when he is dead i.e. over his dead body.
Dear Mr. Boniface, as a forefront defender of human rights, kindly assist us in any way you can. Posted as received from Evans Monari.
In the photo is Samson Odega Opondo, who worked for Bidco since 1995 till 2011. He once injured in his eyes while working at Bidco without protective gear. He says he was fired in 2011 without receiving benefits.
This is unfair to employees .
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