List of 20 Kenyan companies that fired employees amid COVID-19 pandemic

Companies have been struggling to stay afloat amid the covid-19 pandemic. Many have either fired employees, sent them on unpaid leave or permanently shut down the company.

According to reports, more than one million Kenyans have lost jobs during this period as well.

20 companies and industries that have fired employees include;

1. Nation Media Group – In a bid to reduce operational costs, NTV fired top News Anchors such as Ken Mijungu and Harith Salim.

Many journalists from the newspaper department (Business Daily and Daily Nation) were also shown the door.

2. Royal Media Group – Radio presenters such as Shiks Kapienga and Syombua Osiany were laid off.

In March, Royal Media Services introduced a pay cut of between 20% and 30%. It also sent some employees on compulsory leave.

3. Mediamax – The media group fired more than 50 journalists through SMS, sparing only two employees. The remaining employees had to take a 50% pay cut.

4. TV47 fired 42 employees on May 13, 2020.

5. Standard Chartered Bank closed eight branches for 3 months due to the economic impact of the deadly virus.

6. Intercontinental Hotel – It issued a notice to declare redundancies to its staff. It may also permanently close down all operations in Kenya because of the pandemic.

7. Tuskys Supermarket closed down three branches amid covid-19 pandemic.

8. Shoprite Supermarket – They fired staff and shut down the Waterfront Branch in Karen. At least 100 people were affected.

9. Kenya Airways – KQ fired 400 cabin crew despite a court order preventing them from doing so.

It had previously announced plans to fire 182 pilots and 400 cabin crew.

10. Villa Rosa Kempinski – The five-star hotel announced plans to fire some employees. However, it promised to pay them redundancy fees before releasing them from duty.

11.  Fairmont Norfolk Hotel and Fairmont Mara Safari Club – They closed down all hotels and stopped operating.

12.  NCBA Group – It shut down 14 branches in Kenya due to coronavirus.

13.  Serena Hotel – It sent all staff on unpaid leave in June.

14.  EAPCC –The East African Portland Cement Company announced job cuts through a voluntary retirement scheme targeting all employees during Covid-19 pandemic.

15.  Standard Gauge Railway – It sent 4, 013 Kenyans on unpaid leave due to covid-19 crisis.

16.  Bridge International Academies – it sent hundreds of teachers and other staff on compulsory leave. They were told to consider it as “temporary lay-off” during which the institution would not be obligated to pay them.

17.  Mater Hospital – It introduced a pay cut for employees and sent others on unpaid leave. However, they will be cushioned with “50% of the new graduated salary.”

18.  Southern Palms, Diani Reef, Leisure Lodge, Jacaranda’s Indian Ocean Beach Resort and Diani Resort hotels in Diani were shut down.

19. At least 10, 000 people lost jobs in the Flower Industry and more than 50, 000 employees were sent home during covid-19 pandemic.

20. More than 500 employees in the Manufacturing Sector have been fired following the outbreak of Covid-19.