Cyprian Nyakundi has questioned what is happening inside the Safaricom Foundation and why serious corruption allegations involving senior leadership, particularly Karen Basiye, have not been subjected to a publicly disclosed independent investigation.
Basiye, the Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact, has been at the centre of claims involving billions of shillings intended to support vulnerable Kenyans.
Nyakundi has challenged the institution to explain why the public has not received clear answers about the allegations.
The concerns extend to the management of funds meant to support education, healthcare and economic empowerment under the foundation’s 2023–2026 strategy. Reports have raised questions about whether billions of shillings were properly used, with claims that senior managers approved questionable contracts while intended beneficiaries received little or no support.
Whistleblowers have also described projects that allegedly existed on paper but were not implemented on the ground. Other claims suggest that funds may have passed through personal investment vehicles and foreign currency accounts, making it difficult to trace their origins.
Nyakundi has also questioned the apparent link between foundation projects and politicians considered supportive of the government.
In Vihiga, Senator Godfrey Osotsi reportedly admitted that he lobbied for a Sh40 million facility at Emusenjeli Primary School.
In Machakos, gubernatorial aspirant Nzioka Waita said he had requested Sh2.5 million but received Sh50 million, reportedly explaining that he had served the foundation well. In Tongaren, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula appeared alongside Basiye during the launch of a Sh35 million school project.
These cases have raised questions about how the foundation selects projects and whether political connections influence the distribution of charitable funds.
The public deserves an explanation of the criteria used to approve projects, the role of politicians in securing funding and the safeguards in place to ensure that assistance reaches communities according to their needs.
The Safaricom Foundation Board of Trustees also faces questions about its response to the claims.
Nyakundi has questioned whether the board received whistleblower complaints concerning Basiye and whether it initiated formal investigations. He has also raised questions about whether placing her on terminal leave was considered as a way of allowing her to exit quietly without a full examination of the issues.
The board should also clarify whether trustees with potential conflicts of interest recused themselves from relevant decisions and whether any trustees or organisations affiliated with them received contracts from the foundation they oversee.
Such disclosures would help establish whether the foundation’s oversight structures have been effective.
Safaricom has repeatedly promoted its zero-tolerance approach to corruption. However, the allegations surrounding the foundation have increased calls for the company to demonstrate how that policy works in practice.
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