Africa’s Talking‘s co-founder and CEO, Samuel Gikandi, has disclosed that he has been forcibly removed from the organisation he assisted in establishing.
The news startled the African tech community and marked another chapter in the ongoing leadership disputes at the communications platform provider.
Gikandi alleges that he was forcibly removed from his position by those he was investigating for suspected misconduct within the company. This highlights the internal power struggles that have recently overshadowed Africa’s Talking.
Leadership turmoil at Africa’s Talking
Africa’s Talking has been no stranger to leadership challenges in recent years. Just last year, Bilha Ndirangu, a former director and CEO who cofounded the company, sued Africa’s Talking over her removal, which she said was unlawful and intended to obstruct an independent misconduct investigation.
Gikandi’s ousting now adds to this string of contested exits at one of Africa’s leading technology companies.
“Looks like I am going to have to tell the Africa’s Talking story from the outside, having been kicked out by the very criminals I am investigating,” Gikandi stated on XX.
The statement he made emphasises the significant governance conflicts that exist within the company’s leadership.
Impact on Africa’s tech ecosystem
With APIs and communication tools for more than 80,000 software developers in more than 20 countries, Africa’s Talking is an essential part of the continent’s development ecosystem.
Samuel Gikandi co-founded Africa’s Talking with the vision of simplifying African mobile communication networks. In the wake of his departure, one of the most influential tech firms in the region is now uncertain about its stability and trust.
Industry observers will closely observe the impact of these leadership changes on the company’s capacity to accommodate developers and sustain its development trajectory in the face of ongoing internal disputes.
About
Africa’s Talking is a Kenya-based technology company founded in 2010 that provides communication APIs such as SMS, USSD, voice, and airtime services to developers and businesses across Africa.
It supports over 150,000 software developers and 10,000 companies in more than 20 countries, enabling innovative mobile solutions accessible even on basic cell phones. The platform simplifies telecom integration, helping entrepreneurs connect with millions of customers continent-wide.