The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s decision to investigate alleged mistreatment of employees in the office of Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja’s office signals the need for the government to rein in rogue employers abusing their workers.

The reported malpractices in the senator’s office only came to light after a former employee reported the matter to the Senate. The worker claimed their services had been terminated barely months after being hired, with reasons given.

The case highlights the toxic working environment that many Kenyans workers are subjected to, with workplaces engulfed in fear and employees in duress.

The country is littered with thousands of employers who disregard laid-down labour laws to engage in and perpetuate employment malpractices that range from underpayment of salaries and wrongful termination to extreme harassment.

And even those employees whose services are wrongfully terminated are usually sent home empty handed.

Over the past five or so years, the gap between the cost of living and wages has remained a persistent issue, particularly for low-income earners.

Despite the rising cost of living, many employers continue to pay their workers meagre salaries that barely cover basic needs, let alone allow for savings or upward mobility. This situation not only exacerbates inequality but also undermines the dignity of work itself.

Kenya, like many other developing countries, has a substantial informal sector where workers are often unprotected by labour laws.

But even in the formal sector, many employees are not compensated adequately for the work they do. The minimum wage in Kenya is often insufficient to cover the basic needs of workers, especially in urban areas where the cost of living is highest, according to recent reports.

Moreover, many employers exploit the informality of their workforce by offering contracts that don’t guarantee benefits like health insurance, pensions, overtime or paid leave.

The latest figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show that 20.16 million Kenyans live in poverty, six million cannot afford basic food needs, and 3.6 million live in extreme poverty. These numbers demonstrate the urgent need for the government to protect Kenyan workers.