This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
Safaricom's Michael Joseph Under Fire for Racist Remarks ¶
Michael Joseph, the interim CEO of Safaricom, has sparked controversy with his comments at the memorial service of the late Bob Collymore.
Joseph, who had a close relationship with Collymore, read a poem titled 'My Funeral' that the two had agreed to read at each other's funeral. The poem, written by Wendy Cope, is a humorous take on the expectations of a eulogy, urging speakers to keep their remarks brief and to the point.
However, Joseph's tribute to Collymore took a different turn when he described himself as a 'white man in a black body pretending to be a very serious corporate person.' His remarks were met with outrage, with many accusing him of racism.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir, who worked with Joseph on the Safaricom IPO, was among those who condemned his comments, calling him a 'racist.' Human rights activist Ndungu Wanaina also termed Joseph's remarks as 'abhorrent racism.'
However, not everyone saw it that way. Lawyer Nelson Havi defended Joseph's comments, saying that they were a 'technical term' to describe the cultural disparity between Western and African cultures.
Joseph's remarks have sparked a heated debate, with many calling for him to apologize and others defending his right to express his views.
