Employees at a well-known hospitality establishment in Thika are calling for urgent action after reporting prolonged periods without pay and a pattern of mistreatment within the workplace. Staff at Paleo Hotel and Spa say the situation has reached a breaking point, with some workers allegedly going three months without receiving their salaries. The concerns raised by Thika hotel staff highlight growing anxiety within the region’s hospitality sector, where wage complaints continue to surface amid rising economic pressures.
Workers Claim Unpaid Wages for Months
According to employees, unpaid salaries have become a recurring issue at the hotel. Several staff members say they have continued reporting to work despite not receiving compensation, hoping management would honour past commitments. Instead, they claim that new workers are routinely hired while previous employees remain unpaid, deepening frustration and financial distress among long-serving staff.
Many workers say the situation has left them unable to meet basic needs, forcing some to borrow money, delay school fees, or struggle with rent and daily expenses. They describe the circumstances as demoralising and unsustainable.
Allegations of Staff Rotation Without Settling Dues
Employees allege that the hotel regularly brings in new hires without resolving pending payments owed to departing or existing workers. This pattern, they say, creates an environment of instability where staff fear being replaced while still owed several months of wages.
The practice has raised questions about how the establishment manages its labour obligations, especially at a time when Kenya’s hospitality industry is under heightened scrutiny for labour rights violations.
Workers Seek Intervention from Labour Authorities
In their appeal, staff members are calling on county and national labour officials to investigate the wage delays and compel the hotel to address overdue payments. They argue that intervention is necessary to protect vulnerable employees who continue to work under uncertainty.
One distressed worker, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, shared a personal account illustrating the severity of the situation:
“There is a large hotel in Thika Town, Paleo Hotel and Spa, that has been mistreating its employees. They often hire new staff but do not pay previous workers, and I, along with others, have not been paid for three months. Please keep my identity confidential, as I have children and I am at risk if my situation becomes known.”
The plea reflects the emotional and financial toll the situation has taken on affected families.
Growing Pressure for Accountability
The complaints by Thika hotel staff have intensified calls for stronger enforcement of labour laws within Kenya’s hospitality industry. Workers and labour advocates argue that employers must uphold wage obligations and maintain fair treatment regardless of economic conditions.
As more affected employees speak out, stakeholders hope that authorities will step in to resolve the wage dispute and enforce compliance with employment regulations. For now, the workers remain hopeful that their long-awaited salaries will be paid and that fair labour standards will be restored within the establishment.
