Premier Credit Limited is facing mounting scrutiny over serious allegations of abuse of power, intimidation, and financial exploitation at its Nakuru Main Branch, with staff and a victim account describing a workplace governed by fear, favoritism, and silence.
Multiple current and former employees have spoken of what they term a toxic system allegedly overseen by Branch Manager Naomi Watiri Macharia, where loyalty is rewarded, dissent punished, and internal complaints ignored for months.
According to staff, repeated alarms raised with senior management over a period of more than seven months were met with inaction, allowing the alleged misconduct to persist unchecked.
Claims of Fear, Favoritism, and Verbal Abuse
Employees allege that the Nakuru Main Branch is run through selective favoritism, with certain junior staff reportedly enjoying lighter workloads, frequent off-days, and protection from disciplinary action, while others claim they work for months without rest.
Workers further allege that inappropriate personal relationships between the branch manager and some junior employees influence promotions, duties, and daily treatment—conduct staff describe as unprofessional and corrosive to morale.
Several employees also accuse the manager of verbal abuse, including shouting, insults, threats, and humiliation in front of colleagues and customers.
“She insults people who work hard just to keep her numbers looking good,” one employee said. “Public embarrassment is used to make others fear her.”
Allegations of Forced Payments and Financial Exploitation
The most serious claims relate to money. Staff allege they are coerced into using personal funds to cover defaulted client loans, a practice they say is neither voluntary nor lawful.
According to multiple accounts, employees are allegedly pressured immediately after salaries or imprest allowances are paid, with demands made to clear non-performing loan accounts to reduce the branch’s portfolio at risk.
Refusal, staff claim, is met with threats, salary freezes, withdrawal of transport allowances, or sabotage of performance records.
One employee alleges staff were locked inside the office until payments were made, while others claim Human Resources was used to enforce financial punishment without due process.
Workers say they are also pressured to seize client securities without court orders and, in some cases, coerced into buying auctioned items themselves or paying outstanding balances from personal savings.
Nepotism, Retaliation, and Alleged Cover-Ups
Staff further allege nepotism, claiming the branch manager recruited relatives as staff and clients, while directing other employees to shield them from scrutiny. They describe open discrimination and internal divisions resulting from these practices.
Employees question why the manager remained at Nakuru Main Branch for over seven years without reshuffle, despite multiple complaints, alleging protection from senior figures at head office.
They say retaliation follows resistance. Several staff members have reportedly been dismissed after raising concerns, some allegedly without full terminal dues.
One case, staff say, remains deeply troubling: a dismissed employee—said to have been the sole breadwinner—was allegedly denied permission to visit her hospitalized mother. After losing her income, the family reportedly failed to raise medical funds, and the mother later died. Colleagues question whether the company bears moral responsibility.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
Staff say they formally raised complaints over seven months ago—waiting seven months, 24 days, and 19 hours without action. They now demand:
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An independent and confidential investigation
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Protection for whistleblowers
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Immediate action to halt intimidation and retaliation
They warn that failure to act will prompt escalation to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Banking, Insurance and Finance Union.
While the allegations remain unproven and subject to verification, the consistency of the accounts raises serious red flags. The burden now shifts to Premier Credit leadership to respond.
Silence, employees warn, will be read as complicity.