Questions are being raised over influencer marketing platform Twiva after a business development consultant claimed the company has failed to pay commissions worth millions of shillings despite successfully securing major brand deals.
The complainant says they worked with Twiva for about six months, helping bring in some of the company's biggest clients, including Coca Cola, Safaricom and Stanbic Bank. According to the source, the combined value of the campaigns exceeded KSh14 million, yet the commissions agreed upon for the work allegedly remain unpaid.
The dispute has now put the spotlight on Twiva's management, led by founder and Chief Executive Officer Peter Kironji, together with members of the company's finance team. The complainant specifically alleges that repeated follow ups with Martin Ndumia, who identifies himself as Twiva's Finance Lead and Analyst in email correspondence, have yielded little more than promises that payment is "coming next week."
The complainant says the relationship started on a positive note. They were tasked with sourcing clients and introducing business opportunities to the company. According to the source, several campaigns were successfully secured and executed. Once payment became due, the company allegedly began postponing settlement.
The screenshots shared with this publication appear to show a pattern of repeated assurances. In one message, Martin Ndumia writes that the outstanding balance is expected to be settled "early next week" and asks for patience while the matter is brought to a close.
In another exchange, the complainant asks whether the money has been secured and seeks confirmation that payment will be made by Monday. Hours pass without a response before another follow up asking for feedback. Frustrated, the complainant later writes that they have been "managed the whole week," referring to what they describe as repeated delays.
Another conversation shows the complainant pleading for approval of KSh100,000, saying they urgently needed the money that day. The response states that the finance officer did not have access at the time and that payment would most likely happen the following week. According to the complainant, the same explanation has been repeated several times over many months.
Email correspondence seen by this publication also shows the complainant expressing frustration over what they describe as broken commitments. In one email, the complainant says they had been promised a phone call and guidance on billing but neither materialized. They state that campaigns were substantially complete and accuse the company of failing to honor agreed payment timelines despite previous meetings to resolve the issue.
The complainant says they have continued working in good faith, expecting the matter to be resolved internally, but now believes the delays have gone on for too long. They claim they have receipts, engagement records, campaign documentation and a contract to support their claim.
If the allegations are accurate, they raise broader concerns about payment practices within Kenya's growing influencer marketing industry. Agencies that connect brands with creators depend heavily on trust. Delayed payments can leave consultants, creators and campaign managers struggling to meet their own financial obligations even after delivering business to clients.
Below is the complaint received.
Hello Nyakundi, Want to help highlight a certain issue of an influencer management company that has failed to pay us for a long time.
I have receipts on engagements.
I have worked with them for six months.
I brought the Coca-Cola account worth KSh8 million, the Safaricom account worth KSh6 million, and the Stanbic account worth KSh700,000.
To date, I have not received my commissions.
Every day, there is another promise that payment will come next week.
The company is Twiva, run by Peter Kironji, and I have email conversations, screenshots and my contract.