Teleperformance Kenya, a subcontractor for TikTok, has denied claims that it prevented Nigerian content moderator, Ladi Olubunmi, from traveling home before her death.
Reports from ABC News on Wednesday revealed that Olubunmi’s decomposing body was found in her apartment three days after her death.
Company Denies Denying Leave Request
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Teleperformance Kenya refuted allegations that it denied Olubunmi’s leave request.
Despite this, international media reports indicate that colleagues claimed Olubunmi had expressed extreme fatigue. They alleged she was desperate to return to Nigeria before her passing.
Although her contract entitled her to an annual return ticket, her colleagues alleged that concerns over work permit issues prevented her from leaving.
They claimed she repeatedly pleaded with her managers for permission to travel, but her requests were unsuccessful. Teleperformance Kenya dismissed these claims as “baseless and untrue.”
Olubunmi’s Time in Kenya and Concerns Over Working Conditions
Olubunmi relocated to Kenya in 2022 to work as a content moderator for TikTok under Teleperformance, a French outsourcing firm.
Following her death, technology workers in Kenya held a vigil in her honor. During the event, content moderators and data labelers working for global tech companies voiced concerns over poor working conditions. They believe these conditions may have contributed to her death.
Allegations of Work Permit Issues for Nigerian Workers
As reported by AP, Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, alleged that more than 100 Nigerians working under Teleperformance Kenya lack valid work permits.
Due to this, many of them have been unable to travel home, despite being promised an annual return ticket as part of their employment benefits.
“Over 100 Nigerians working for Teleperformance in Kenya haven’t had work permits for two years. As a result, they cannot travel home despite their benefits,” Malgwi stated.
Nigerian Authorities Yet to Respond
When FRONTPAGE Metro reached out to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission on Wednesday, spokesperson Abdulrahman Balogun did not respond to calls or inquiries. The commission has not yet disclosed any official steps being taken regarding the incident.
Previous Cases of Nigerians Dying Under Mysterious Circumstances in Kenya
This incident is not the first case of a Nigerian dying under unclear circumstances in Kenya.
In July 2021, two Nigerians died at a house party under mysterious conditions.
One victim fell from the 7th floor of Skyhorse Apartment in Kilimani, dying instantly. The second collapsed on the kitchen floor and was later pronounced dead.
The circumstances surrounding Olubunmi’s death raise further concerns over the treatment of foreign workers and the validity of employment conditions for Nigerians in Kenya.
