Jumia, an online marketplace for electronics, and fashion among others targeting several African countries has for the past two days been trending on social media, here’s why.
A few days ago one Kevin (@osama_otero), a popular social media enthusiast and influencer took to popular microblogging platform Twitter lamenting over consistent frustration from one Christine Mutugi the social media, and KOL manager at Jumia Kenya over some Sh70,000 owed to him.
This was allegedly, payment for an influencing gig done in January 2021.
I have declared war on @JumiaKenya as a brand an anything on a personal level. Christine and Co. i need my 70k
— Sir-Rap-A-Lot (@Osama_otero) March 4, 2021
The following few days saw the fed-up Kevin garner a lot of support online, with more and more Kenyans coming out with damning revelations of how the Jumia platform has frustrated them and #UninstallJumiaApp was born.
2. #UninstallJumiaApp they dont honor their warranty policy pic.twitter.com/3tAPTAnsWp
— Sir-Rap-A-Lot (@Osama_otero) March 14, 2021
#UninstallJumiaApp @JumiaKenya
These are real thieves, even commission for Their agents they don't own up..
Watajua hawajui pic.twitter.com/W2vTsuOAyJ— PAUL DESMOND KARIUKI (@PaulDesmondPK) March 13, 2021
Jumia Kenya Exposed
The Jumia marketing team in Kenya is now facing bigger problems as Influencers contracted to the company reveal shady theft at the department that includes alleged inflation of invoices.
“The Jumia marketing department has been stealing from influencers and worse, from the company too,” Kevin says, “For instance, Jumia has a 30-day policy on payments for a job done. When they make you write an inflated invoice suddenly the 30-day policy doesn’t exist.”
The social media kahuna says moguls at the department make sure you get paid in weeks and then ask you to send them the overpayment. “They ask you to send the surplus amount to a number belonging to Christine Mutugi.”
According to Kevin, the Sh 70,000 mentioned above was for work done in January and wasn’t inflated as is ‘standard’ procedure. “The invoice was written on 9th January. It wasn’t inflated and that’s why the Jumia marketing department has frustrated efforts to get me paid led by Christine Mutugi.” a distraught Kevin says.
Creatives in Kenya are already cutthroat and while their job is often fuelled by passion, it still demands long hours, time away from friends and family, or side-gigs to supplement income. When brands refuse to pay these creatives, it’s a huge disservice.
