Kenya’s telecommunications giant, Safaricom, has halted its advertising spending on platforms owned by Nation Media Group (NMG), reports state.
The move comes after a series of critical reports on Safaricom’s business practices, including allegations of data privacy violations and controversial business deals.
The immediate trigger for the ad suspension appears to be a report published by The Daily Nation on October 29th, 2024, which alleged that Safaricom shared user data without consent.
While Safaricom has denied these claims, the fallout has strained its relationship with NMG.
This isn’t the first time Safaricom has pulled its ads following negative coverage. However, this is the first instance where the company has withheld its financial reports from NMG publications. Instead, Safaricom released its results through rival outlets.
The tension between the two entities has been further exacerbated by Safaricom’s full-page ad campaign in rival newspapers, where it reiterated its commitment to privacy.
This move, coupled with past attempts to influence media coverage, highlights the company’s significant market power and its ability to shape media narratives.
Additionally, Nation Media Group is facing challenges beyond Kenya. Tanzania’s communications regulator suspended one of NMG’s subsidiaries’ websites called Mwananchi after it published an animated ad deemed critical of the government.
This situation underscores the increasing influence of corporate entities on media independence and the sustainability of traditional media outlets in the region.