A recent incident in Limuru, Kenya, involving a Range Rover driver who fueled up to Ksh. 10,500 and drove off without paying has put a fuel station attendant in a difficult situation. The driver, after receiving the fuel, sped off, leaving the attendant accountable for the unpaid amount.
Consequently, the station management has reportedly decided to deduct the amount from the attendant’s salary, which has raised concerns about the fairness of this action.
Such occurrences highlight the vulnerability of workers in service industries, where they may bear the brunt of financial losses caused by customers’ actions.
The matter has sparked discussions on whether employees should be held responsible for losses incurred due to customer dishonesty, especially when preventive measures like security cameras or prepayment systems could mitigate such risks.
This incident also sheds light on broader issues of workplace rights and protections in Kenya, particularly for workers in lower-income positions who may lack the leverage to contest such deductions or who might fear losing their jobs if they do so.
