Bob Collymore, the CEO of Safaricom, is facing scrutiny after a KPMG forensic audit report exposed alleged corruption within the company. The report, which was leaked by prominent blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, raises questions about questionable land deals, single sourcing of tenders, and favoritism.
Allegations of Corruption and Media Silence ¶
The report alleges that Safaricom is involved in corrupt practices, including favoritism in tender allocation, particularly to Huawei. Several companies, including Scangroup and Mosound, have been implicated in the report. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the Kenyan media has been largely silent on the issue, with some outlets reportedly being bribed to ignore the story.
A memo allegedly sent by Standard Group's Managing Editor, Joseph Odindo, instructed editors to kill any stories related to Safaricom and the KPMG audit. This has raised concerns about the media's role in holding those in power accountable.
Twitter Bots and Diversionary Tactics ¶
According to sources, Bob Collymore hired Twitter bots to troll Nyakundi and divert attention from the main issue. The bots were allegedly paid 1,000 shillings to participate in a hashtag campaign. Additionally, Collymore is accused of bankrolling petty blogs to help divert attention from the damning forensic audit report.
Instead of addressing the issues directly, Collymore has reportedly resorted to sideshows, including writing to the CID to investigate who leaked the KPMG report. This move has been seen as diversionary and counterproductive.
Consequences and Accountability ¶
The allegations against Collymore have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for accountability. As the CEO of a publicly-listed company, Collymore's actions have been deemed to be a threat to the peace and harmony of Kenyans. His use of his dominant position to bribe his way into contracts has also raised concerns about corruption.
Many have come out in support of Nyakundi, who has been fighting corruption with limited resources. The EACC has also been criticized for its handling of the matter, with some accusing the commission of taking orders from the state house instead of delivering on its mandate.
