Tuskys Supermarket Buruburu branch is weeks away from getting shut down
Empty shelves, low customer numbers characteristic of Uchumi when it was going down, adorn the halls of Tuskys Buruburu.
Most of the workers show signs of fatigue and depression over the impending death for the once vibrant supermarket chain.
The Supermarket’s weakness has been evident since March when the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a cessations of movement which badly affected the already struggling retail chain.
Tuskys started by announcing the closure of some branches in Nairobi, Kitale and Mombasa in April.
By May, suppliers of the supermaket had written to govt to help them salvage the situation as they had not been paid over Sh1.3 billion.
Suppliers and staff
The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) had ordered Tuskys to pay the suppliers by July 16th. This has not been honored.
To cut costs, Tuskys announced a salary reduction in April, followed by an unpaid leave regime at the beginning of July. Both have been resisted by the Tuskys started by announcing the closure of some branches in Nairobi, Kitale and Mombasa in April.
By May, suppliers of the supermaket had written to govt to help them salvage the situation as they had not been paid over Sh1.3 billion.
The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) had ordered Tuskys to pay the suppliers by July 16th. This has not been honored.
To cut costs, Tuskys announced a salary reduction in April, followed by an unpaid leave regime at the beginning of July. Both have been resisted by the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW).
The courts sided with the Union.
The Sh2 billion cash injection by a Mauritius based financiers isn’t enough to bring back Tuskys.
Here are some pictures of the dying retail chain.
Photos
