Zuku Hit with Sh500K Fine for Spam Texts: Pandora’s Box Opens for Future Lawsuits

Ex-Customer’s Victory Over Relentless Spam Texts Sparks Legal Avalanche for Kenyan Firms

In a ruling that could redefine corporate accountability in Kenya’s digital age, internet provider Zuku has been ordered to pay a former customer Sh500,000 for bombarding him with unsolicited promotional messages years after he ditched their services.

The penalty, issued by Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, not only exposes glaring gaps in data privacy compliance but sets the stage for a potential wave of lawsuits against Zuku and other firms flouting consumer rights.

The case, stemming from a November 2024 complaint by ex-client Yasin Abukar, reveals a Kafkaesque ordeal. Abukar argued that despite repeatedly demanding—via calls, emails, and even showing up at Zuku’s offices—that the company delete his personal data and stop spamming him, the messages kept coming.

“I felt harassed. They treated my privacy like an afterthought,” Abukar stated in his submission. His frustration deepened when Zuku’s listed customer service email bounced back as invalid, leaving him trapped in a corporate runaround.

Zuku, owned by Wananchi Group, denied ever receiving Abukar’s requests, claiming a system audit showed no record of his pleas. But the Data Commissioner’s office uncovered a far thornier reality.

An ODPC investigation found that the email address provided on Zuku Fibre’s website for data protection inquiries was inactive, making it difficult for Abukar to exercise his right to data deletion. Despite Zuku’s denial of receiving formal deletion requests, the ODPC found evidence that the company continued processing Abukar’s data and obstructed the investigation.

The regulator ruled that Zuku Fibre violated Sections 26 and 40 of the Data Protection Act by failing to honor Abukar’s data deletion request, unlawfully processing his personal data, and providing an invalid contact channel for data protection inquiries.

“The right to data deletion is fundamental, and organizations must comply with the law or face the consequences,” the ODPC stated.

During a court-sanctioned raid last week, Zuku’s staff reportedly stonewalled investigators, refusing access to digital records and systems despite being presented with a search warrant.

“Their lack of cooperation turned this into a witch hunt,” Kassait wrote, accusing Zuku’s directors of obstruction—a charge that could now land them in criminal court.

A Precedent for “Data Vigilantes”

The ruling, dated February 15, 2025, is more than a win for one aggrieved customer. It sends a seismic warning to Kenyan Zuku and other firms: ignore data deletion requests at your peril. With Kassait pushing for prosecutions beyond fines, companies risk both financial bleeding and reputational ruin.

Legal experts predict a surge in similar cases

“Consumers are waking up to their rights under the Data Protection Act. This verdict is a green light for others to demand respect—or sue,” says Nairobi-based privacy advocate Miriam Wanjiku on X.

The timing couldn’t be sharper: Kenya’s data watchdog recently vowed to clamp down on foreign violators, signaling a no-nonsense era of enforcement.

Zuku’s Mounting Woes

The firm’s claim of innocence—“We found no trace of his complaints”—collapsed under scrutiny, with Kassait dismissing it as “convenient denials.” Worse, their defiance during the probe paints a picture of a company clinging to opacity in a transparency-driven market.

Abukar’s lawyer, speaking anonymously, hinted at broader implications: “This isn’t just about spam texts. It’s about companies hoarding your data like gold long after you’ve left them. That ends now.”

Zuku has 30 days to appeal, but the court of public opinion may already be leaning toward Kassait’s stance. As Kenyans increasingly guard their digital footprints, the message is clear: respect privacy, or pay the price—one lawsuit at a time.

For consumers drowning in spam, Yasin Abukar’s fight is a rallying cry. For corporations? A chilling wake-up call: delete responsibly, or brace for the flood.