An explosive wave of allegations has placed Apollo Tours under intense scrutiny, after current and former drivers accused the firm of systematic labour exploitation, despite its high-profile corporate clientele that includes Huawei, Safaricom, Kenya Airways, Agatha, and BAT.
While the company markets itself as a premium corporate transport provider, workers say the reality behind the wheel tells a far darker story—one defined by missing contracts, intimidation, job insecurity, and silent suffering.
Recruited Today, Working Today — No Contract, No Protection
Multiple drivers interviewed for this investigation allege that new recruits are forced to begin work immediately, without being issued:
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Employment contracts
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Offer letters
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Clear salary structures
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Written terms of service
One former driver described the process bluntly:
“You are recruited today and start driving the same day. No paperwork. No security. If you ask for a contract, HR turns hostile.”
Without documentation, drivers say they are left legally exposed, unable to pursue claims for unfair termination, unpaid wages, or workplace injuries.
Corporate Glamour Built on Casual Labour
To its corporate clients, Apollo Tours projects efficiency, compliance, and professionalism. Internally, however, drivers claim most of the workforce is treated as casual labour, regardless of how long they serve the company.
According to workers:
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There is no social security or job stability
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Leave and benefits are largely absent
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Drivers shoulder long hours and high-risk routes
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Pay is inconsistent and unclear
“The company protects its image, not its drivers,” one current employee said. “We are disposable.”
Labour experts warn that such arrangements may violate Kenyan employment law, which requires written contracts and protection against unfair dismissal, especially for work that is continuous rather than casual.
Retaliation and Fear Inside the Workplace
Perhaps most disturbing are allegations of retaliation against drivers who question management.
Several sources say that raising concerns with Human Resources is often met with:
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Harassment
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Threats
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Immediate termination
“If you ask for an offer letter, you’re treated like a rebel,” another driver said. “Some colleagues were fired just for demanding their rights.”
With no union representation and no contracts, many drivers remain silent—fearing job loss more than exploitation.
Director Named, Accountability Absent
Drivers interviewed pointed to the company’s director, Mr. Asif, accusing management of ignoring repeated internal complaints. Despite these allegations, workers say there has been no meaningful engagement, reform, or accountability from leadership.
Labour rights advocates argue that companies serving major corporations should be held to higher standards, not lower ones.
“You cannot ferry executives by day and trample workers’ rights by night,” one labour activist noted.
A Wider Labour Crisis in Kenya
The allegations against Apollo Tours mirror a broader problem in Kenya’s private sector—casualisation of labour, lack of contracts, and punitive HR practices used to silence workers.
Under Kenyan law:
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Employees are entitled to written terms of employment
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Retaliation for asserting labour rights is prohibited
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Continuous work cannot be disguised as casual employment
Yet enforcement remains weak, allowing some firms to profit while workers bear the risk.
Questions Apollo Tours Must Answer
As pressure mounts, key questions remain unanswered:
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Why are drivers denied contracts and offer letters?
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Why is questioning HR treated as insubordination?
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How does a firm serving top-tier clients justify such labour practices?
Until these questions are addressed, drivers—the backbone of Apollo Tours’ operations—will continue to operate in fear and uncertainty, while the company benefits from lucrative corporate contracts.
This investigation underscores a hard truth: corporate success built on worker exploitation is not success—it is abuse.