Kenyan technology workers mourned Nigerian colleague Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a TikTok content moderator, whose unclear death followed a two-year inability to return home. Concerns about poor working conditions, lack of support, and denied leave were raised, shedding light on broader issues within the industry.
In Nairobi, Kenya, technology workers held a vigil for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator for TikTok who died under ambiguous circumstances. Olubunmi had been unable to return to Nigeria for two years, and her decomposing body was discovered after three days. Colleagues reported her fatigue and a strong yearning to go home but the exact cause of her death remains unclear.
Teleperformance Kenya, her employer, declined to comment on the matter directly, instead describing allegations of her denied leave as “baseless and untrue.” Despite this assertion, content moderators employed by subcontractors have previously reported substandard working conditions, including reduced pay, inadequate mental health support, and extensive working hours.
The vigil attendees emphasized that poor working conditions could have contributed to Olubunmi’s demise. Kauna Malgwi, a friend, highlighted the plight of over 100 Nigerian employees within Teleperformance who were without work permits and thus unable to utilize their annual travel ticket benefits.
The family was informed of Olubunmi’s death a day after her neighbor found her body. Following the incident, Teleperformance notified her brother via email and provided contact information for Kenyan authorities. However, her family faces difficulties regarding burial arrangements, as they cannot afford to transport her remains back home, prompting them to consider asking her church for assistance in conducting the funeral.
The vigil for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by content moderators in Kenya’s tech industry, including poor working conditions and emotional distress. This tragic event has highlighted the urgent need for better support and resources for workers affected by such adversities. The continuing struggle of many employees without basic rights, such as travel permits, exacerbates the concerns over their treatment in the workplace.
Original Source: www.2news.com
