Meta Contract Exit Triggers Mass Job Losses in Nairobi Firm

Mass layoffs are looming in Nairobi’s outsourcing sector after a major service provider confirmed the end of its partnership with Meta Platforms, leaving more than 1,100 employees at risk of redundancy. The company revealed that the contract, which underpinned a large portion of its operations, will lapse at the end of April following unsuccessful renewal talks.

In a redundancy notice issued in accordance with the Employment Act, the firm indicated that 1,108 workers will be affected, many of whom were engaged in Meta-linked projects. The development deals a significant blow to Kenya’s growing digital outsourcing industry, which has increasingly relied on global tech firms for employment opportunities.

The Nairobi office has played a central role in supporting Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, through content moderation and artificial intelligence training tasks. Workers were responsible for reviewing sensitive online material and labelling data used to improve automated systems.

Despite the layoffs, the company said it will provide transition support such as counselling, healthcare, and financial assistance to those affected. It maintained that shifts in client needs are common in the outsourcing business and that efforts are underway to manage the transition responsibly.

The partnership has previously drawn global attention, with critics raising concerns over working conditions, low pay, and exposure to distressing content. Court rulings allowing local lawsuits against Meta have further intensified debate over accountability in the global digital labour ecosystem.