Whistleblower Lifts the Lid on Charles Momanyi—The Man Behind Gilanis Distributors’ Crumbling Sales Empire

Inside Gilanis Distributors Ltd (GDL), a storm has been quietly brewing. For years, whispers of employee mistreatment, financial manipulation, and toxic leadership have circulated among staff who fear reprisals if they speak out. Now, insiders are breaking their silence and at the center of it all is Charles Momanyi, the National Sales Manager whose influence has grown into one of the company’s most polarizing forces.

A Culture of Fear and Intimidation

According to multiple employees, the leadership culture at GDL has deteriorated into one defined by fear, threats, and punitive measures. While CEO Faiz Gilani is often portrayed as the ultimate enforcer of this environment, staff insist that much of the rot festering in the company can be traced back to the missteps, arrogance, and manipulations of Momanyi.

Momanyi, who is closely associated with tycoon Mohammed Jaffer of Proto Energy Limited, has positioned himself as an untouchable figure within GDL. His proximity to power, sources say, makes him immune to criticism—even as the sales team and regional managers are ground down by impossible expectations, denied basic rights, and punished for systemic failures beyond their control.

Sales Teams Treated as Disposable

Staff accounts reveal that salespeople are routinely forced to push near-expiry products into the market under a strict “no return” policy, exposing both employees and consumers to risk. When sales staff inevitably fail to move such stock, the financial penalties fall squarely on them—deductions of Kshs. 5,000 per person have been reported after expired Afia Tetra 250ml juice was offloaded onto their vans.

Instead of defending the sales team or demanding better operational planning, Momanyi is accused of enabling the very policies that set them up to fail. His role in reinforcing the CEO’s decrees while misrepresenting the real situation on the ground has fueled resentment and suspicion among employees.

Fuel Deductions and Punitive Rules

Another issue highlighted by employees is the unrealistic Kilometer Per Litre (KPL) targets imposed on company vehicles. Sales teams driving overloaded Probox vans across rough terrain are penalized when fuel consumption exceeds rigid benchmarks. Again, rather than intervening, Momanyi is seen as one of the masterminds behind these deductions, tightening the noose around already struggling staff.

Hostile Management and Crumbling Morale

Beyond Momanyi, several other names recur in staff grievances. Figures like Sales Coordinator Calvince Anditi, Finance staffer Shinaz, and the abrasive Abdul have all been accused of arrogance and mismanagement. However, insiders stress that Momanyi’s influence overshadows them all.

“Momanyi misleads Faiz every morning with sugar-coated lies. Instead of fighting for proper deliveries, logistics, or incentives for the team, he protects his position by painting a false picture of performance.”

This pattern, employees argue, has contributed to unreliable deliveries, poor customer retention, and growing instability within GDL’s distribution network.

Incentives Stolen, Rights Denied

In many FMCG companies, sales teams rely on incentive schemes from suppliers like Tru Foods, Bidco, Pwani Oil, and Chandaria Industries. At GDL, however, staff say these incentives rarely reach them. When payments arrive, management—often under Momanyi’s oversight—finds excuses to withhold or deduct them, citing “damages” or “expired stock.”

Leave days and off days, another basic entitlement, are reportedly ignored. Employees claim that accumulated leave days are arbitrarily canceled, leaving them exhausted and demoralized.

The Shadow of Proto Energy

Perhaps the most alarming revelation is Momanyi’s alleged loyalty not to GDL, but to outside interests. As Mohammed Jaffer’s right-hand man in Proto Energy, his dual loyalties raise questions about whether his decisions at GDL are guided by the company’s growth or by external influences.

Critics within the firm warn that this conflict of interest has already started destabilizing the business. “The way he misadvises Faiz is dangerous. GDL will collapse if this continues.”

A Call for Accountability

The testimonies from GDL staff paint a grim picture of an FMCG distributor spiraling under poor leadership and misplaced trust. While the CEO Faiz Gilani remains the face of the company’s troubles, it is Charles Momanyi—the man pulling strings behind the scenes—who employees say has entrenched the toxic culture.

There are growing calls for regulatory bodies such as KEBS and the Ministry of Labor to step in. The allegations range from unsafe distribution of near-expiry products to gross labor violations. Insiders insist that they hold evidence—including threatening messages and internal communication screenshots—that could corroborate these claims.

For now, Gilanis Distributors continues to expand outwardly, but within, its foundations are shaking. Unless the management confronts the corrosive role of Charles Momanyi and his clique, GDL risks becoming yet another case study of how arrogance, intimidation, and mismanagement can bring down even the fastest-growing firms in Kenya’s FMCG space.