Big Companies that Sacked Staff in the Last Six Months

Kenya has witnessed a wave of layoffs across major sectors in the past six months, with companies citing economic challenges, restructuring, and redundancies as the main reasons behind sending thousands of workers home.

According to data by Pesa Wall, firms including Tile & Carpet Limited, G4S, KK Security, and Posta Kenya have conducted massive staff reductions.

Tile & Carpet Limited laid off 300 employees, while G4S sent home 400 workers, both citing economic difficulties. KK Security carried out the largest cut, terminating 1,000 staff members due to redundancy.

The trend has not spared government-linked and educational institutions. Posta Kenya terminated 600 jobs, blaming a sharp decline in business, while Moi University, grappling with financial struggles, also conducted undisclosed layoffs. AMREF, a major NGO, lost over 400 employees following USAID funding disruptions.

In the private sector, exits from Kenya’s market triggered significant layoffs. Betsafe, a gambling company, and CMC Motors, an automobile dealer, both shut down local operations, leading to 100% staff layoffs.

Manufacturing and energy sectors have also been hit. BAT Kenya cut 19 positions citing redundancy, while OLA Energy underwent restructuring, although the number of affected workers remains undisclosed.

The fintech industry was not spared either. Digital lender Tala laid off 28 staff members, attributing the decision to a surge in customer defaults and queries.

The media sector joined the wave with Radio Africa Group laying off 27 employees recently, also citing redundancy.

While some companies disclosed exact figures, others such as Base Titanium and OLA Energy opted not to reveal the number of workers affected, though the reasons for layoffs—depletion of ore and restructuring, respectively—were clear.

The cumulative effect of these layoffs has raised concerns about Kenya’s economic recovery and job market stability, even as businesses continue to struggle with high operational costs and a challenging financial environment.