Catherine Kamau, widely known as Kate Actress, has publicly announced her decision to cut ties with Kenya’s leading telecommunications company Safaricom.
This move comes in the wake of the violent suppression of anti-Finance Bill protests, during which numerous protesters were shot and arrested.
In a heartfelt social media post, Kate Actress expressed her moral conflict with continuing her professional relationship with Safaricom when the company aided government to crack down on the protests.
“PSA: Silence is betrayal! I will no longer be working with @safaricomplc_ as an influencer, not on our departed brothers’ blood!” she declared, highlighting her solidarity with the victims of the protests and her stance against the perceived complicity of Safaricom.
The telecommunications giant has faced mounting accusations from social media users and the general public.
Many people claim that Safaricom colluded with the government by providing location data of its customers, which purportedly facilitated the arrest of vocal protesters.
These accusations intensified following the arrest of several prominent figures leading up to the June 25, 2024, demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024.
In response to these allegations, Safaricom issued a statement denying any involvement in sharing customer information with the government.
Despite this, public sentiment has remained skeptical, and calls for a boycott of the network provider have grown louder.
Further fueling the controversy was a significant network outage experienced by Safaricom during the height of the protests on Tuesday June 25, 2024.
Protesters and supporters took to social media to claim that the outage was a deliberate attempt by Safaricom to hinder communication and coordination among demonstrators.
Conversely, Airtel, another major telecommunications provider in Kenya, had no such issues, leading many to speculate about the true nature of Safaricom’s outage.
Kate Actress’s decision to sever ties with Safaricom is a notable example of how public figures are increasingly leveraging their influence to take stands on social and political issues.
Her move has garnered significant attention and has sparked discussions about corporate responsibility and the ethical obligations of businesses in times of political turmoil.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Safaricom will address the ongoing backlash and whether other public figures will follow Kate Actress’s lead in distancing themselves from the company.
The broader implications for Safaricom, in terms of customer trust and corporate image, could be profound, especially if the allegations of collaboration with the government continue to gain traction.
Related: It is not taxpayers’ money – Kate Actress defends US visit amid criticism
