Safaricom PLC, Kenya’s largest telecommunications company, is once again under public scrutiny after an explosive exposé by one of its own employees, Emma Okere, was deleted under what appears to be internal pressure from the company’s management.
Emma, a current staff member at Safaricom, had taken to LinkedIn last week to detail shocking claims of bullying, gaslighting, withheld payments, and psychological intimidation at the workplace. In her powerful post, she recounted being forced to work while hospitalized, only to later face accusations of underperformance by Safaricom’s Human Resources department.
But now, the post — which had garnered widespread attention and support online — is no longer visible. Multiple sources confirm Emma was instructed to pull it down after management flagged the post as a breach of internal communication policy.
Silenced for Speaking Out
“I was reminded that Safaricom PLC is a big company. Bigger than me. That they could send security after me. That I should think twice before speaking up. That I could lose everything. That I might even lose my life,” Emma had originally written.
These words — now erased from public view — paint a chilling picture of the culture brewing inside Kenya’s most profitable corporate brand.
Emma claimed that Safaricom not only tried to control her voice but also withheld performance-based incentive payments owed to her, despite her years of service and dedication.
From Hospital Bed to HR Threats
In her original post, Emma detailed how she worked from her hospital bed in December 2024 — joining Zoom calls while medicated, showing up to deadlines despite illness — only to be gaslighted by HR, who claimed she hadn’t been working.
“They called me a non-performer. I started questioning my own reality,” she wrote.
What followed was an HR meeting that, instead of offering support, reportedly turned into a threat session, where she was warned not to raise concerns publicly.
A Pattern of Suppression?
Emma is not the first employee to raise concerns about Safaricom’s internal practices — but she is one of the few who dared to speak publicly.
Now, her post is gone.
The company has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the allegations, even as public calls grow for the firm to audit its HR policies, especially when it comes to whistleblowers and mental health protection.
Her story has stirred a conversation across social media about how big Kenyan corporations handle internal dissent, especially from women, neurodivergent employees, and those facing health challenges.
Deleted, But Not Forgotten
Though her post is no longer live, screenshots and archived versions of her message continue to circulate online.
Emma’s voice, once silenced, has now been amplified by a wave of support from Kenyans who see her experience as a reflection of a much bigger problem — unchecked power, toxic work environments, and a culture of fear.
“I loved this company. I loved my job. I loved innovation. But I was not safe,” she had written.
The Bigger Question
Why would Safaricom — a brand that prides itself on corporate responsibility and mental health support — choose to silence rather than support a struggling employee?
How many others have suffered the same fate, only without the courage or platform to speak up?
Safaricom’s silence on Emma’s case sends a loud and troubling message — one that could damage the trust it has built with both its employees and the public.
Have you faced intimidation, withheld pay, or abuse at Safaricom or any other company?
