Researcher Vows To Take Giant Safaricom in Multibillion Lawsuit

Independent analyst alleges corporate crimes, fraud, and state collusion in landmark case against Kenya’s telecommunications giant

A Kenyan researcher has launched an unprecedented legal assault against telecommunications giant Safaricom PLC, filing multiple lawsuits totaling over KES 6 trillion in damages while alleging a web of corporate crimes, occupational fraud, and state collusion that reaches into Kenya’s highest law enforcement offices.

Antony Kagirison, founder of Kagirison Research, has initiated what he describes as three distinct but interconnected lawsuits that promise to expose what he calls “felony crimes, discrimination, incompetence, fraud, collusion, and corporate malfeasance” within East Africa’s most valuable company.

The Scale of Legal Action

The legal offensive comprises three separate cases:

• First lawsuit: Filed directly by Kagirison against the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Attorney General (AG), and Inspector General of Police
• Second lawsuit: Seeking KES 2 trillion in damages from Safaricom PLC (not involving Kagirison directly)
• Third lawsuit: Targeting both the Government of Kenya and Safaricom for damages exceeding KES 3 trillion

Additionally, there is an ongoing KES 1.342 billion lawsuit against Safaricom and a key shareholder that was filed on February 24, 2025, comprising 1,022 pages of evidence and supporting documentation.

Allegations of State-Corporate Collusion

At the heart of Kagirison’s allegations is what he terms “state-corporate crime” – a pattern of collaboration between Safaricom and Kenya’s law enforcement agencies to “defeat justice and persecute victims of Safaricom’s corporate crimes.”

The researcher claims this collusion includes “maligning their reputation and bending the justice system of Kenya to serve malicious actors,” suggesting a systemic corruption that extends beyond corporate misconduct into the machinery of state justice.

White-Collar Crime Framework

Kagirison grounds his legal strategy in established white-collar crime doctrine, specifically referencing Edwin Sutherland’s 1940 definition of white-collar crime as offenses “committed by people from respectable status in society in the commission of their occupation.”

He invokes the “responsible corporate officer” (RCO) doctrine, which allows high-ranking corporate officials to be charged for crimes occurring within their corporations even without direct knowledge or involvement. This legal framework could potentially implicate Safaricom’s senior leadership structure.

Corporate Death Penalty Warning

In a stark warning to Safaricom, Kagirison references the concept of “corporate death penalty” and cites the case of a 168-year-old global bank with assets exceeding US$500 billion that nearly collapsed under litigation costs exceeding US$5 billion in 2017, primarily due to fraud cases.

The researcher suggests that despite “elite lawyering” – which he defines as “finding legal ways to insulate wealthy corporate clients from accountability for profitable harms” – such practices can be countered through what he terms “postmodern jurisprudence and process philosophy.”

A Pattern of Legal Challenges

Safaricom faces mounting legal pressure from multiple quarters. Recent cases include:

• A data rollover lawsuit challenging the practice of data bundle expiry and automatic out-of-bundle charging
• A class action suit over alleged breaches of private consumer data
• An M-PESA dealer lawsuit over alleged market power abuse
• Accusations from lobby groups regarding data breaches and invasive privacy violations in collaboration with security agencies

Safaricom’s Market Position

The timing of these lawsuits is particularly sensitive given Safaricom’s dominant market position. The Kenyan government recently announced plans to sell more of its stake in Safaricom as part of efforts to raise 149 billion shillings ($1.16 billion) in the 2025/26 financial year.

As Kenya’s most profitable telecommunications company and operator of the widely-used M-PESA mobile money service, Safaricom’s reputation and financial stability have significant implications for Kenya’s economy and financial sector.

Legal Strategy and Representation

Kagirison has indicated he will handle his personal involvement in the lawsuits “in propria persona” (representing himself), while employing what he describes as advanced legal philosophies to counter any elite legal representation Safaricom might deploy.

His research platform has been systematically documenting what he alleges are patterns of fraud and corporate misconduct, including questions about procedural promotions, tender award influences, and potential bid rigging within Safaricom’s operations.

Industry Impact

The lawsuits come at a time when Kenya’s telecommunications sector faces increasing scrutiny over data privacy, consumer protection, and market dominance issues. The cumulative legal challenges could reshape how major telecommunications companies operate in Kenya and across East Africa.

What’s Next

The legal proceedings are expected to unfold over the coming months, with the researcher promising that the cases will offer insights into corporate accountability and the mechanisms available to challenge what he perceives as systemic corporate misconduct.

Safaricom has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in Kagirison’s filings, though the company has previously denied various claims made against it in other ongoing legal matters.

The cases represent one of the most comprehensive legal challenges ever mounted against a major East African corporation, with potential implications that extend far beyond Kenya’s telecommunications sector.

This is a developing story. We will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide updates as they become available.

Disclaimer: This report is based on publicly available court documents and research publications. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.