Emma Okere, a former employee at Safaricom PLC, has come forward with a harrowing account of the toxic and oppressive work environment within the telecommunications giant.
In a bold LinkedIn post, Okere, who is autistic, shared her deeply troubling experience, revealing how she faced gaslighting, intimidation, and threats from the very people tasked with supporting and protecting employees.
Okere begins her post with a painful admission: she regrets ever signing her contract with Safaricom. Despite working diligently, even from a hospital bed in December, Okere claims that the Human Resources department at Safaricom dismissed her contributions, telling her that she did not work during that period.
This, she argues, is part of a larger pattern of gaslighting where employees are made to question their reality, their worth, and their sanity.
Gaslighting, Okere explains, is a form of psychological warfare. It is the act of manipulating someone into doubting their perceptions and memories, ultimately leading to a loss of self-confidence and trust in their own experiences.
In Okere’s case, this toxic dynamic was compounded by Safaricom’s high-pressure corporate environment, where KPIs, performance reviews, and so-called “employee wellbeing” programs masked the darker truths of the company’s internal culture.
As if the gaslighting wasn’t enough, Okere shares an even more chilling experience.
In a meeting with HR, she was reportedly told that Safaricom was a “big company” and that, if necessary, they could send security after her. According to Okere, this was not just a warning but a direct threat one that could potentially escalate to violence.
Okere alleges that she was told, in no uncertain terms, that she might even lose her life for speaking up.
Throughout her post, Okere expresses a deep sense of exhaustion. She acknowledges the toll that Safaricom’s toxic work culture has taken on her physical and mental health. The stress, anxiety, and fear of further retaliation have left her body broken and her mind in pieces.
Despite all of this, she insists that she did not speak up for herself alone, but for all employees who have been marginalized or bullied by a system that claims to support inclusion but, in reality, fails to deliver on its promises.
Okere also points to the specific treatment of neurodivergent employees, particularly those with autism or ADHD. In a company that touts its commitment to diversity and inclusion, Okere found herself, and others like her, suffering in silence.
The emotional and psychological toll of her experiences with Safaricom has left Okere feeling defeated. Yet, in a bold and defiant statement, she declares that she will no longer fight the “giants” of the company.
Her body and mind, she says, have had enough. However, her resignation does not mark the end of her pursuit of justice. Okere concludes her post with a powerful statement: if her life must be the price to expose the suffering of countless other employees within Safaricom, she is willing to pay it.
“I loved this company. I loved my job. I loved innovation,” Okere writes, but she adds that she now knows what it means to be silenced and ignored in a company that claims to champion its employees.
