Cyprian Nyakundi has brought to light a major scandal through his X account involving the USAID-funded Fahari Ya Jamii (FYJ) project in Kenya. In a detailed post shared, Cyprian exposed the ongoing mistreatment of staff, especially those employed under BlumeAfrica. He quoted a source who reached out to him anonymously, stating, “We have really suffered both financially and mentally. We just need our dues and we need to move on.” The insider went on to describe how staff under BlumeAfrica were abruptly terminated, with no clear communication on when or if they would receive their remaining salaries and benefits. The source even revealed that efforts to engage FYJ management had failed, and that staff were now forced to seek legal help and support from labor offices.The FYJ project was established with the noble aim of offering HIV-related services in Nairobi and Kajiado counties. It operates with funding from USAID, targeting improvements in health service delivery. However, this vision seems to have taken a backseat, with internal operations now in chaos. Staff who were employed by the University of Nairobi have reportedly been treated well they received their dues in full and were granted contract extensions until the end of June 2025. In contrast, those employed through the sub-awardee HR firm BlumeAfrica have been left in the cold.
These workers, despite doing similar work, have been subjected to silence from management, unpaid salaries, no severance, and a cancelled medical cover that was already basic to begin with.The staff began facing problems after a USAID-issued 90-day stop work order came into effect in January 2025, reportedly following policy shifts from the U.S. administration. Staff were sent on an unpaid leave starting February 1, and were only recalled on February 19.
Since then, only the March salary has been paid, and there has been no clear communication regarding payments for February, April, or even any severance. Their last working day is set for May 8, 2025, and with just days to go, there is still no indication of when they will receive their pending dues.The situation is so dire that a staff debrief session organized by LVCT Health was boycotted by employees after FYJ management declined to join the meeting.
The staff made it clear that they would not engage in mental health support sessions unless the real issue payment of dues was addressed. This shows the level of frustration and hopelessness among the workers. They’ve now formed a WhatsApp group to organize and plan their next steps, which includes engaging legal experts and reporting the matter to labor offices.
It is also important to highlight the wide gap between the two categories of staff. UoN-employed workers enjoy comprehensive medical cover, pension, and better salaries. BlumeAfrica staff, on the other hand, have faced constant uncertainty. Even their minimal health cover was discontinued for the financial year starting October 2024. These unequal terms have added to the mental strain and pushed the affected workers to the brink.
The way FYJ management has handled this exit process has left many questioning whether this is the kind of governance expected from a high-profile USAID project.
With more affected staff coming out to speak through platforms like Nyakundi’s, the pressure on FYJ management and USAID is only increasing. The issues raised show not just a failure in management but a deep-rooted disregard for the dignity of the people who have worked tirelessly to provide crucial health services.
Until those responsible step up and address these concerns, the scandal around the Fahari Ya Jamii project is likely to grow, possibly affecting ongoing services and public trust in similar donor-funded projects.
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