JKIA

Around the middle of last year, employees at Mitchell Cotts Freight Kenya Ltd, one of Kenya’s largest logistics companies, received a surprising email. It indicated that those who wished to leave the company were free to do so. Through a voluntary early retirement package, the company generously offered 31 days’ pay for every year worked, including financial training from ICEA Lion, an affiliate of the firm’s owners. At that time, the restructuring was not entirely surprising, given that Kenya’s economy had stagnated post-Covid-19, which had severely impacted the logistics business. Furthermore, a disruptive European war had exacerbated the situation. However, beyond the economic challenges, local…