Safaricom has fallen.
And Maxine Wahome is the latest to depict that; in fireworks splendour.
She has opened the can of worms that has been leaking for months now.
But let’s not mix issues here.
Safaricom bosses risk jail over Sh7.7 million unpaid insurance claim
The above headline has had millions of views and with it, those in the know are asking how did it reach the mainstream media.
Safaricom has had a well-guarded image for some time now, but under the leadership of Peter Ndegwa, things have gone to the dogs.
The mainstream media, which has given cases of intellectual property theft a wide berth, is suddenly interested in court cases that touch on Safaricom.
It is clear to see that all is not well with the giant; even on social media, Safaricom influencers seem to have been dropped and these days, they take turns to punch the Telco.
Both the mainstream media and social media influencers have fled / are hitting the company. Maxine Wahome’s issue is just the latest to show the collapse of a formerly well running PR machinery
Oxygene MCL, the Public Relations company that handles Safaricom’s brand image has been on toes these past few months trying to quell fires.
They’ve barely succeeded.
The latest to show that they have failed is the above headline: Safaricom bosses face contempt in Sh7.7 million insurance claim. A story carried by Nation Media Group (NMG).
On the social media space, Maxine Wahome’s attempted murder case has opened a new can of worms.
Fallen image
Maxine Wahome, the new girl in the block, became the first African woman to win WRC3 Category during the WRC Safari Rally Kenya in 2022.
The 26-year-old woman was sponsored majorly by Safaricom Plc.
In that good month of June, there were rumours that the whole win was faked. No one looked deeper.
But that’s not the point.
The point is Oxygene MCL is currently holding its chest trying to put out fires brought about by calls by Kenyans online for Safaricom to act.
Safaricom’s hypocrisy is shining in the Ms Wahome saga.
The rogue Telco has not released any statement condemning the Gender-Based Violence meted upon another by their champion and image carrier.
The PR firm Oxygene is at pains to put out the fires, coming hot in the heels of the court case where Safaricom bosses are risking jail term over their contempt of court.
Ephantus Mbogo Njuki wants directors of Safaricom including the chief executive officer Peter Ndegwa, Dilip Pal, Winfred Ouko, and Linda Muriuki among others jailed for six months for refusing to surrender Sh7.7 million compensation money as directed by the court.
This will come as a reprieve for all those who have lost their intellectual property to Safaricom through theft.
Where is the statement?
Safaricom statement is too late by many hours.
In the March 2021 saga involving radio presenters Shaffie Weru, DJ Joe Mfalme and Neville. The telco was quick to act as the trio lost their jobs immediately after making fun of a woman who was pushed from 12th-floor balcony by her boyfriend.
Kenyan media condemned them for promoting GBV.
Safaricom has extended Maxine Wahome’s sponsorship with additional Ksh 2M. Good stuff 🙌
— Aleckie Ronald (@SirAlexas) October 8, 2021
A video is currently circulating online showing a pool of blood allegedly belonging to Asad Khan.
A statement by Safaricom has not yet arrived; which lend credence to the application of rules selectively by the Telco.
Their PR firm, Oxygene has a lot to answer, some bosses having been accused of sexual immorality within it. But they are still serving. We can deduce why the statement has delayed.
If @ShaffieWeru and @DjJoeMfalme got their termination letters from their sponsors on a Sunday via social media, then @Safaricom_Care @SafaricomPLC @wrcsafarirally @OfficialWRC and other sponsors should do the same to Maxine Wahome, becase if they don't, they'll have confirmed
— Mr. PIPPIN 🇰🇪 (@ScottKorir) December 14, 2022
EABL too has gone silent on the matter.
Wasn’t Jane Karuku’s company one of those that the Shaffie Weru, DJ Joe Mfalme and Neville under the bus?
Their silence is deafening.
