In Nairobi, Kenya, a solemn vigil was held by technology professionals to commemorate their colleague, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi. Her tragic passing was shrouded in uncertainty as she had been unable to visit her homeland in Nigeria for two years. Olubunmi, employed as a content moderator for TikTok by the subcontractor Teleperformance Kenya, was discovered deceased in her residence last week, her body having gone unnoticed for three days.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, although she had reportedly expressed feelings of fatigue and a longing to return home. Efforts by the Associated Press to contact Teleperformance Kenya for a comment were unsuccessful. However, a company statement seen by a journalist asserted that any claims about Olubunmi being denied leave were “baseless and untrue.”
Content moderators employed by subcontracted companies in Kenya have frequently reported challenging working conditions characterized by lower-than-average salaries, insufficient mental health support, extended working hours, and instances of intimidation. Over 100 former Facebook content moderators have initiated legal action against the social media giant, citing poor pay, substandard working conditions, and unjust employment terminations by Samasource, Facebook’s subcontractor based in Kenya.
During the vigil on Tuesday, numerous content moderators and data labelers engaged with different global technology companies came together to voice their concerns. They speculated that the unfavorable working environment may have been a contributing factor to their colleague’s untimely demise.
Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, highlighted that over 100 Nigerians employed by Teleperformance had been unable to obtain work permits for the past two years, preventing them from traveling home, despite having an annual return ticket benefit.
Olubunmi’s family was informed of her passing a day after a neighbor discovered her body. Teleperformance communicated her death to Olubunmi’s brother through email, providing contact details for Kenyan investigators to facilitate acquiring information about autopsy and burial procedures.
Malgwi noted that the family was financially unable to transport her body back to Nigeria and was contemplating seeking assistance from her church in Nairobi for a local burial.
