Kenya Public Relations firm Oxygene Marketing Communications Limited (Oxygene MCL) is said to have landed a marketing gig to salvage the tainted image of fraudulent Indian conglomerate Adani Group.
Adani which has faced problems convincing Kenyans about their numerous deals with the Kenyan government, are said to have paid top dollar to Oxygene to ‘launder’ their image. Note that Adani is facing bad PR all over the world.
Adani’s most popular deal is the take-over of East and Central Africa’s busiest airport Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for 30 years. Other less talked-about, but equally lopsided deals include energy and power transmission.
Despite opposition, but arguably due to the low nature of awareness and protests by Kenyans, the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) signed a Sh96 billion deal with Adani Energy Solutions to develop transmission lines.
Mark you, the transmission lines have no issue, and KETRACO has been sighted to be a cash cow where top government officials such as Raila Odinga, William Ruto through the Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa have built palatial homes through graft.
“Kenya has the money, and need not Adani Group to help it develop. The money is always stolen,” said an insider.
The JKIA deal is still in the works, but Kenyans are more aware of what’s at stake and how bad the deal is for workers, the economy, and the country’s security. This is shown by the online and offline protests.
According to online reports, Adani has paid Oxygene to fly influencers to India to take pictures and stories to feed the Kenyan webosphere and push back the bad press against Adani.
As per reports, the influencers are not going to be paid in cash but in kind; by a promise of flying out of the country to take pictures for instagram, X and Facebook. How cheap?
The information was confirmed by Kenya whistleblower Nelson Amenya (Screenshot and X-link shared).
Adani hired oxygéne PR firm in Kenya to do PR and make them look good now they are sending influencers to India to come and lie to you. #StopAdani pic.twitter.com/EdruvHXb7o
— Nelson Amenya (@amenya_nelson) October 19, 2024
Scandal at Oxygene
In Kenyan forums, Oxygene’s sexual scandals from the past emerges.
“There’s exploitation, mistreatment and harassment of female staff, ‘ a forum member stated.
“Oxygene MCL is a picture of mismanagement, a toxic work environment and a corporate culture based on sexual favours and intimidation where even promotions are based on sexual givings, and tribalism rules. The top management is wholly led by Nyeri boys!” sources say.
Sources say that in late 2019, the company lost 30 employees due to poor management structures and internal wrangles directly fueled by the Managing director.
Most of those who resigned were ladies who refused to accede to sexual demands from senior managers.
“Some of the ladies have quit after being continually harassed and when they refuse to give in to demands they are pushed out”, sources said.
Oxygene was founded by former Nation Media Group CEO Linus Gitahi and others from the same media house.
Linus Gitahi is Chairman of the board at Oxygene MCL. Mr Gitahi sits on the boards of DTB Bank (Chairman), United States International University (Kenya), ARM Cement Plc, Tropikal Brands Afrika Ltd, among other notable brands.