This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
On September 23, 2019, Safaricom was awarded the 2019 Employer of the Year by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) at their third annual awards ceremony.
This marked a significant shift from the previous two years, where British American Tobacco (BAT) had taken home the award. Safaricom had previously been the runner-up, narrowly beaten by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
The award recognized Safaricom's commitment to inclusivity and diversity, as well as its effective human resources and industrial relations practices. The company also received a first runner-up position in the Corporate Performance, Innovation, and Productivity, and Workplace Environment categories.
According to Michael Joseph, Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer, the company's recognition was a result of its efforts to improve its work environment through a value proposition and inclusive culture. He also credited the company's customers and partners for helping Safaricom live out its purpose of transforming lives.
Notably, Safaricom's employee demographics reflect a 50:50 gender ratio and 2.1% of employees with disabilities. The Federation of Kenyan Employers Award was introduced in 2017 to recognize best practices in corporate governance, people management, and labor relations among employers in Kenya.