Businesswoman Carey Priscilla sparks public outrage over mandatory workplace prayers, withheld lunch

The controversy erupted when an anonymous employee leaked a workplace text message to the popular social media platform Nairobi Gossip Club.

The directive stated that Friday morning devotion sessions lasting 10 to 15 minutes were mandatory, with a strict caveat: “Please note that anyone who is absent from or arrives late for the Friday devotion will not be provided with lunch that day.”

Addressing the backlash via her social media accounts, Priscilla doubled down on her stance rather than backing down.

Defending her rules, she argued that her businesses are founded on faith and prayer, comparing her corporate culture to religious practices observed by other organizations.

"As for us, we pray, we have devotions because the organization was founded on a product of faith and prayer, and we’re going to take that culture forever. We are not forcing anyone into our beliefs; we are just being clear on what we stand on," Priscilla stated, adding that her policy is openly communicated to candidates before they join her team.

She added: "We're not forcing anyone into our beliefs. We are just being clear on what we stand on. And during interviews, even on social media, we are very loud about it. We are a faith-led organization, and that is not changing anytime soon."

Priscilla went on to draw comparisons to other religions, reiterating that, just like Muslims and Hindus, Christians too needed to prioritise God in their businesses, stressing that she was not going to abandon that culture anytime soon. 

"Every organization has a culture... work for any Muslim-owned organization, and they even close to pray. For Hindus, they have to light that thing before they even open the business. As for me, as for us, we pray, we have devotions. Because the organization was formed as a product of faith and prayer, and we're gonna take that culture forever," she stated.

The clip and screenshots quickly went viral, triggering mixed and largely critical reactions across Kenya's digital landscape. Many internet users slammed the directive as a form of psychological coercion and workplace toxicity.

Critics argued that tying basic welfare provisions like lunch to religious participation crosses the line from building a company culture to manipulating employees. 

One widely echoed comment read, "You are just manipulating them by having them choose between food? That doesn't sound very Godly." 

Another user chimed in, "Faith should be an invitation, not a condition. If people only attend devotion because they’ll lose lunch otherwise, that’s not genuine willingness, it’s pressure. Share God, yes. Force Him on people? No." 

On her part, X user Esther Kimani wrote, "Then she says even Jesus fed the 5000 people after they were preached to. When will people realize that your company cultures DO NOT exempt you from abiding by employment and labor laws and the right to dignity." 

Conversely, a smaller faction of social media users defended the entrepreneur, asserting that private business owners have a right to establish their own corporate cultures and operational guidelines, and that employees uncomfortable with those terms are free to seek employment elsewhere.

From a legal standpoint, forcing employees to participate in religious activities or penalizing them for non-compliance faces major hurdles under Kenyan law.

Under Article 32 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and opinion. 

Crucially, Article 32(4) explicitly states that no person shall be compelled to act or engage in any act that is contrary to their personal belief or religion. 

Forcing staff into mandatory prayer sessions infringes directly upon this constitutional protection.

Article 27 of the Constitution prohibits direct or indirect discrimination against any person on grounds including religion, conscience, or belief.

Under Article 41, every worker is entitled to fair remuneration and reasonable working conditions. 

Penalizing employees by withholding standard workplace benefits - such as lunch - due to their refusal or failure to partake in a religious exercise opens an employer up to claims of discrimination, workplace harassment, and constructive or unfair termination.

Previous rulings by the Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya have consistently underscored that employers carry a definitive burden to respect and accommodate employees' freedom of religion and conscience, making mandatory religious compliance policies legally precarious.