A Safaricom dealership shop has come under fire after allegedly locking out a security guard during the June 27 anti-government protests in Nairobi’s CBD.
In a video that has since gone viral, a man who was outside the shop during the incident can be heard expressing his displeasure at the Safaricom workers’ actions.
The video also shows the watchman standing outside the locked shop, while Safaricom employees inside the shop peek outside at protesters running along the street.
“So, guys I’m here outside Nation Centre and opposite here there’s Golden Star Restaurant and then there’s this Safaricom shop, these guys have locked themselves inside there and they’ve left their security man outside.”
“Can you guys imagine that their security guy is outside inhaling teargas while they are safely inside the shop,” said the man angrily.
Public Reaction to the Viral Video
The video has since elicited reactions on X and TikTok with Kenyans expressing their outrage and disappointment over the incident.
One user, Siah Wanja, exclaimed, “Safaricom workers locked themselves inside the shop only to lock their watchman outside? Where is the humanity??!!! Why Why Why!!!!”
Another user, Robbie, called it “beyond toxic” for the shop to lock out a fellow worker.
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“That guy works with them in the very same shop… that is a mini-Safaricom shop, and workers cannot be more than 10 so, they knew very well he was out there and still locked him out with the teargas… A fellow worker… That’s beyond toxic,” he said.
Brian Suguti, used the incident to criticize the shop’s management, saying, “A security guard’s life matters. He is not a son of a lesser god for him to be left exposed like this given the circumstances.”
“Shame on all those employees and the management of that Safaricom shop. Surely you can do better than that.”
“I told you Safaricom doesn’t care about anyone but themselves. Just look at how their staff locked themselves inside their shop, leaving their security guard to die outside all alone.”
“How can Peter Ndegwa and Safaricom PLC justify such heartlessness?” remarked George Njoroge.
Influencers Cut Ties with Safaricom
Safaricom has recently found itself embroiled in a growing controversy with the latest incident seeing prominent social media influencers publicly sever ties with the brand.
The backlash stems from Safaricom’s perceived role in the recent internet outage that occurred during the anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi.
Influencers, including Dennis Ombachi, Muchiri Mike, Magunga, Adelle Onyango, Mamito, and others accused Safaricom of intentionally disrupting internet access to suppress communication and dissent against the government.
In a bold move, these influencers have vowed to leverage their large social media platforms to call out the company, urging their followers to reconsider their support for the company.
The influencers’ collective stance reflects the growing dissatisfaction with Safaricom’s perceived betrayal of its customers and the public.
The hashtags and campaigns calling for a boycott of Safaricom are gaining momentum, further intensifying the pressure on the telecom giant.
Safaricom CEO Addresses the Internet Outage
In response, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa addressed the internet outage, attributing it to reduced bandwidth on international cables affecting multiple providers.
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“I want to start by sincerely apologizing for the network outage that started on June 25, 2024. This outage was occasioned by reduced bandwidth on some cables that carry internet traffic.”
“Please note that this did not only affect Safaricom but also affected the whole industry. We are doing everything to ensure that we give you the service that you deserve,” he said.
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