Fresh allegations of worker exploitation have thrust Kenyan businesswoman and former Trinity Energy executive director Ann Kathure Rutere, also known in some business circles as Ruth Rutere, back into the spotlight, with several Kenyan workers claiming they have endured months and, in some cases, more than a year without pay while working for companies linked to her business network in South Sudan.
The claims, which have been circulating among Kenyan workers and activists, paint a grim picture of life behind the corporate image of a business empire associated with media, petroleum, logistics and advertising ventures operating across South Sudan and East Africa.
Workers who spoke about their experiences allege that they were lured to South Sudan with promises of lucrative employment opportunities, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of delayed salaries, financial hardship and uncertainty.
According to the workers, management repeatedly cited South Sudan’s economic instability, conflict-related disruptions and delayed government payments as reasons for failing to honour salary obligations.
Several employees claim they continued reporting to work despite going for months without pay, fearing that resignation would leave them stranded in a foreign country without resources to return home.
The allegations come against the backdrop of longstanding controversy surrounding companies linked to Rutere and her business associates.
In 2023, US-based investigative organisation The Sentry published a report titled “Crude Dealings” examining a major oil-backed financing arrangement involving South Sudan’s largest fuel supplier, Trinity Energy. The report raised concerns about possible bribery, trade-based money laundering, tax evasion and opaque financial transactions linked to the deal. (Nairobi Exposed (https://nairobi.exposed/exposed/trinity-energys-director-ann-kathure-rutere-fingered-in-south-sudan-oil-fraud-report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The investigation identified Rutere as Trinity Energy’s executive director during the period under review and highlighted several transactions involving companies in Kenya and South Sudan connected to her and other Trinity Energy directors. The report also recommended investigations into financial flows that passed through Kenya. (Nairobi Exposed (https://nairobi.exposed/exposed/trinity-energys-director-ann-kathure-rutere-fingered-in-south-sudan-oil-fraud-report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Rutere has previously denied wrongdoing and, through legal representatives, challenged several allegations contained in The Sentry report, maintaining that she is a law-abiding businesswoman and disputing suggestions of illicit activity. Documents published by South Sudan Reports indicate her lawyers demanded corrections and rejected claims that she admitted private businesses were controlled by South Sudan’s security apparatus. (southsudanreports.com (https://southsudanreports.com/report2/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The latest complaints from workers revive concerns about the treatment of foreign employees operating in South Sudan, a country that has faced years of political instability, economic crises and conflict-related disruptions.
Former Trinity Energy finance manager Biswick Kaswaswa, whose testimony contributed to The Sentry investigation, previously alleged that he encountered resistance after raising concerns about financial controls within the company. Human rights organisations and whistleblower advocacy groups documented claims that he was later arrested, detained and subjected to abuse in South Sudan following his disclosures. (PPLAAF (https://www.pplaaf.org/whistleblowers/biswick-kaswaswa.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Employees now raising concerns say their frustrations extend beyond unpaid salaries. Some claim attempts to seek intervention from labour authorities and diplomatic offices have yielded little assistance, leaving them feeling abandoned while struggling to meet rent, medical expenses and family obligations back home.
The allegations are particularly sensitive given the large number of Kenyans working in South Sudan’s private sector. For years, the country has attracted Kenyan professionals seeking higher wages in industries ranging from media and logistics to oil and infrastructure.
Trinity Energy has grown into one of South Sudan’s most influential fuel companies, at one point claiming to supply a significant share of the country’s petroleum needs. The company remains a major player in the regional energy sector with operations stretching beyond South Sudan. (trinitynrg.pingit.co.ke (https://trinitynrg.pingit.co.ke/about/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Neither Rutere nor the companies mentioned in the workers’ complaints had publicly responded to the latest allegations by the time of publication.
The accusations are likely to intensify calls for Kenyan authorities, labour agencies and diplomatic missions to strengthen protections for citizens working abroad, particularly in fragile states where labour disputes can quickly become humanitarian crises.
For many of the affected workers, however, the issue is simpler than corporate investigations or geopolitical intrigue. They say they only want the salaries they earned and the dignity they believe was taken from them.
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