Kenyans share painful job loss experiences

Emotions took center stage early Thursday morning when Kenyans turned to Twitter to share their experiences after losing their jobs.

Through the hashtag #Ilostmyjob, many expressed their ordeals after they received information that they had been sacked.

Allan Onserio, a twitter user, narrated that he moved out of Kenya after a long struggle with joblessness. He got a job in an Arab country where he worked 12 hours straight with unfavorable conditions that led to the death of a colleague.

Some people blamed the government for coming up with policies that are not favorable to private investors. As such, some of these investors opt to leave the country rendering many jobless (like the case of Sportpesa).

Many, in their experience, went ahead and narrated how losing a job means starting afresh. Others said they lost their friends and that one wouldn’t take long to become irrelevant.

“Losing a job is one of the worst ever experience. You have to start all over again, you still have got bills to foot, and worst still, your friends abandon you. To those employed, it might not be your dream job, it might not excite you, but hold it on," said one user.

Some of the companies that have laid off their staff over the past year include; 

1. Stanbic Bank - over 200 employees given voluntary retirement.

2. East Africa Portland Cement – all staff declared redundant.

3. Kenya Airways – 38 employees laid off.

4. Finley Flowers in Kericho – at least 1700 workers lost jobs in 2018.

5. Nakumatt – 800 out of approximately 4000 employees lost their jobs.

6. Nestle Kenya – Over 100 employees lost jobs in May 2018.

7. Unilever Tea Kenya – sent 11,000 employees to voluntary early retirement in 2018.

8. Sportpesa – Sacked 400 plus employees today.

“Companies aren't sending employees home. The government is sending the employees home by creating a hostile environment for the business to thrive. In 2days alone over 10companies are shutdown based on self-interests from government officials. #SaveMyJob for #ILostMyJob” added another Twitter user.

Last week on Thursday, a friend of mine had a motorbike accident. On Sunday, gas na unga ikaisha. Then on Tuesday akapoteza job yake.#ILostMyJob— panya jeuri (@panyajeuri) October 3, 2019

Guys wallowing and yelling about #ILostMyJob yet they are praising and defending Dp Ruto as a hustler na mkombozi in 2022 forgetting he is part of this mess promising 20 stadiums while shutting up Sportpesa et al! Fungueni macho nani mtatumika hadi lini????let's finish the journey pic.twitter.com/UvW231dkoN— Amakanji Thomas (@AmakanjiThomas) October 3, 2019

Companies aren't sending employees home. The government is sending the employees home by creating hostile environment for the business to thrive. In 2days alone over 10companies are shutdown based on self interests from gvt officials. #SaveMyJob for #ILostMyJob— Kilonzo (@Kilonzodm) October 2, 2019

So I went for an interview today n didn't get the job,I was so mad and deflated at the end I just wanted to go home n crawl into bed!??
I swear being an honest person sux sometimes, there's so much I want to do with my life but there ain't no jobs out there#SaveMyJob#ILostMyJob— ping pong official ???????? (@pauliddiali) October 2, 2019