Enterprise Division Managing Director Kris Senanu admitted there will be terminations of employment but did not reveal the number/FILE.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1 – Telkom Kenya has refuted claims that it will fire as many 575 staff members, after a memo purported to be from the firm circulated Wednesday claiming the layoffs.
Enterprise Division Managing Director Kris Senanu admitted there will be terminations of employment but did not reveal the number.
“In the next two weeks, we will confirm the number of people we will be letting go, but it will not be 575,” Senanu said.
The plans come ahead of the proposed merger with Airtel Kenya.
Senanu added that most of Telkom employees support the upcoming merger between the firm and Airtel Kenya.
“A lot of our employees are very excited about the prospects of the merger because who wants to work for a company that is being beaten in the market, so the merger is a positive prospect from our employees,” Senanu commented.
However, his sentiments differ with a company memo by Telkom Kenya chief human resources officer Catherine Olaka that was leaked indicating that the company intends to lay off approximately 575 workers.
“ We have notified the communications workers union and sent out individualized letters to staff where applicable as well as the county labor offices giving one month notice with effect from July 31, 2019 of our intention to terminate the employment of approximately 575 of our employees on result of redundancy as a result of the transaction,” reads the statement.
UK based Investment partners Helios owns the majority stake – 60 percent – of the country’s third largest telco, while the government of Kenya owns 40 percent.
