Kenyan comedian comes under fire for ‘sanitising’ local bank’s image

The video was made for Equity Bank and encouraged parents to use the bank to pay for back-to-school shopping and school fees. It was shot at a school in Meru County, with the popular comedian dressed in a school uniform.

However, the vocal social media grouping known as KOT (Kenyans on Twitter) were not amused. Neither were other Kenyans and local media.

Nairobi News reported that “the video left a bad taste in the mouths of his audience”. It quoted Njugush as saying it was part of an ongoing marketing campaign and had been planned well before the public controversy over Equity Bank.

Comedian denies intent to sanitise bank’s image

“Nothing as sanitising. Actually it was a scheduled post, but the agenda must agend, right?”  Njugush told the media outlet.

“His post came after Kenyans took to Twitter after numerous reported fraudulent activities took place concerning Equity Bank,” Nairobi News said. 

It added that the bank has since advised its users against using public Wi-Fi when transacting on the bank’s app. It also warned clients against giving their phones, laptop, or computer to strangers, including those who purport to be from telcos.

Also reporting on the uproar, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) said: “The video was not received well by his fans or a number of Kenyans, especially on Twitter, who claimed the collaboration was meant to sanitise the bank’s image.”

Writing on her LinkedIn page, the CEO of a prominent local PR company noted: “Dear brand custodians, before you engage #influencers to ‘sanitise’ your #brand, please address customer complaints. Launching an #influencercampaign to respond to customer backlash will result in a #PRdisaster.”