Kenyan beauty entrepreneur and influencer Carey Priscilla has defended the mandatory Friday devotions at her businesses after an employee’s complaint about the practice surfaced online, sparking a heated debate on religion in the workplace.
The founder of Carey Beauty College addressed the controversy in a video posted on her social media platforms after learning that her company’s internal policy had been shared on the popular Nairobi Gossip Club platform.
The employee alleged that staff members were required to attend Friday morning prayers and that those who skipped the sessions were denied the complimentary lunch provided by the company.
Responding to the claims, Carey confirmed that the reports were largely accurate but insisted there was nothing hidden about the arrangement.
“I woke up this morning to find out my employees have exposed me on Nairobi Gossip. All because Friday devotion in the meeting are mandatory, and if you don’t attend, hakuna lunch.”
The entrepreneur then jokingly questioned those criticizing the policy.
“Yani kuna watu huku nje hawapendi maombi lakini mnapenda chakula, eh?”
Carey explained that faith has always been the foundation of her businesses and that she has no intention of changing that culture despite the backlash.
She said every company she has established exists because of her Christian beliefs, making prayer an important part of how she runs her organizations.
“Anyways, for me, that’s non-negotiable because every business that I have founded is a product of faith, and I have to keep it as that.”
The beauty entrepreneur added that she has always been transparent about the company’s spiritual culture and does not spring the practice on employees after they have been hired.
“I’m very loud about it. Everyone knows this before even they join the team, the devotion.”
According to Carey, prospective employees are informed about the Friday devotion during the recruitment process, allowing them to decide whether they are comfortable working in a faith-centred environment before accepting a position.
Although Carey maintained that employees are aware of the devotion policy in advance, it is the lunch arrangement that has generated the most discussion online.
According to her explanation, staff members who choose not to attend the Friday prayer session do not receive the complimentary lunch offered by the company that day.
The entrepreneur views the meal as an optional company benefit rather than an employee entitlement, arguing that management has the discretion to determine the conditions under which it is offered.
Her stance has since been widely summarized online as “No devotion, no free lunch.”
Carey has long been open about the role Christianity plays in her life and business.
As one of Kenya’s most recognizable Akorino influencers, she frequently shares content about prayer, fasting and trusting God in both her personal life and entrepreneurial journey.
Her beauty academy has also regularly featured devotion sessions, prayer meetings and faith-centred activities involving students and employees.
For Carey, those practices are not simply workplace routines but part of the identity of the businesses she has built over the years.
Despite the criticism, she has made it clear that she does not intend to abandon those principles.
