
Technology workers in Kenya held a vigil on Tuesday for Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, a Nigerian content moderator for TikTok, who died after remaining in Kenya for two years.
Olubunmi, an employee of Teleperformance Kenya, was found deceased in her residence last week. Her body was discovered in a state of decomposition three days later.
According to AP, The cause of death has not been determined. Colleagues state that she had reported experiencing fatigue and had expressed a desire to return to Nigeria.
The platform added that the company denied allegations that Olubunmi was denied leave, stating the claims were “baseless and untrue.”
Content moderators in Kenya working for subcontracted firms have previously voiced concerns regarding working conditions, including low wages, limited mental health support, extended work hours, and workplace intimidation.
A lawsuit has been filed by over 100 former Facebook content moderators against the social media company, citing grievances against its Kenya-based subcontractor, Samasource, regarding pay, working conditions, and termination.
During the vigil, content moderators and data labelers from various tech companies suggested that working conditions may have contributed to Olubunmi’s death.
“There are more than 100 Nigerians working under Teleperformance who haven’t had work permits for the last two years, preventing them from traveling home despite having an annual return ticket benefit,” said Kauna Malgwi, a friend of the deceased.
Olubunmi’s family was notified of her death the day after her body was discovered.
Teleperformance sent an email to her brother informing him of her death and provided contact information for Kenyan investigators regarding the autopsy and burial arrangements, AP reported.