Faras Kenya, once seen as a beacon of hope in the taxi-hailing industry, is now at the center of a storm of complaints from its employees.
According to a post by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi on X on January 1, What started as murmurs of discontent among drivers over unfair pay and excessive commission cuts has snowballed into a full-blown crisis. At the heart of it all is Osman Ahmed, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, who employees blame for the company’s descent into chaos.
“I joined Faras Kenya hoping to grow professionally, but it’s become a nightmare,” shared a former employee, her voice heavy with frustration.
“Payments are late, agreements are ignored, and questioning anything is pointless because Osman acts like he’s above everyone. He even brushes off legal threats by saying, ‘Kampuni iko na pesa’ (the company has money).”
Ahmed, who took over as COO in October 2023, is accused of running the company like a personal fiefdom. Employees allege he arbitrarily decides who gets paid and how much, disregarding contracts. This high-handedness has created a culture of fear and helplessness among workers.
Drivers complain of missing payments and crippling commission rates, while direct marketers say they’ve earned as little as Ksh 15 in an entire week. Many employees describe the atmosphere as toxic, with claims of favoritism and tribalism deepening their sense of betrayal.
“Faras Kenya used to be a respected company,” lamented another employee. “Now, it feels like a poorly managed village kiosk. Osman’s arrogance and disdain for others have ruined everything.”
Questions are also being raised about Ahmed’s past. Employees allege he previously worked at Wajir County Government, leaving under murky circumstances.
Many are calling for scrutiny into his track record, hoping it might explain the current state of affairs at Faras Kenya.
For now, Faras Kenya’s workers remain trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and frustration, holding onto the hope that someone will step in to hold the company accountable. “We just want to work in peace,” said one employee. “Is that too much to ask?”
