Taita Hills Resort & Salt Lick Wildlife Resort on The Spot Over Racism Claims

The Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) has launched an investigation into allegations of workplace abuse, discrimination, and mistreatment at Taita Hills Resort and Spa in Taita Taveta County.

The probe follows multiple complaints from current and former employees accusing the resort’s General Manager, Sanjeev Kumar, of fostering a toxic work environment through verbal abuse, intimidation, and discriminatory practices.

One of the most alarming claims comes from an intern who alleges she was body-shamed by Kumar, who reportedly made degrading remarks about her physique and attempted to terminate her internship on that basis. After the Human Resource Manager refused to approve the termination, she was reassigned to the front desk, where the harassment allegedly continued. The intern claims she was eventually dismissed prematurely.

“On numerous occasions, he made demeaning comments about my body, particularly referencing my large breasts and stating that they had ‘no place in the hospitality industry,’” reads a complaint submitted to TRA.

Other former employees have also spoken out, alleging that Kumar frequently humiliated staff in front of guests, including yelling at them and, in one instance, nearly throwing a notebook at a subordinate. Additionally, the resort has been accused of disregarding staff leave entitlements, including maternity and paternity leave, with those who raised concerns reportedly facing retaliation.

One particularly concerning allegation involves Kumar’s interference with a former employee’s job prospects. According to the TRA, Kumar allegedly made threatening calls to a neighboring lodge where the employee had secured a position, ultimately pressuring them to resign and return to Taita Hills Resort.

The resort is also facing accusations of racial discrimination. Witnesses claim that Kumar expressed a preference against hiring Black employees and allegedly replaced front office staff with lighter-skinned individuals.

Another disturbing account details an incident in which Kumar purportedly shattered a fruit bowl in anger and berated a pastry chef. A CCTV controller who captured the event on video was reportedly pressured to delete the footage and later dismissed.

Kenya Insights obtained a video appearing to show a man of Indian descent aggressively confronting an African staff member in a kitchen. The footage shows the man knocking utensils and food off a counter while addressing the employee.

In response to these allegations, the TRA has demanded an official explanation from the resort’s management within five days, warning that failure to address the complaints could result in the suspension of the resort’s tourism license.

Taita Hills Resort, which markets itself as “Africa’s best-kept secret,” has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.