The last few days have seen a complex dispute involving OPPO Kenya, content creator Flaqo, and marketing agency AIfluence unfold over unpaid fees for the OPPO Reno12 series campaign.
Comedian Flaqo revealed a troubling story where content creators were pressured to produce three months of content within two weeks, with promises of compensation that never materialized.
He created extensive promotional material for the Reno12, highlighting its AI features during an August 2024 event, only to find himself and other creators five months later without payment.
Earlier today, OPPO Kenya issued an official response to the matter. The company claims full financial compliance, having paid AIfluence a 50% down payment at the campaign’s start and the remaining 50% on October 25 of last year.
More importantly, OPPO Kenya emphasized that all influencers signed contracts directly with AIfluence, not OPPO Kenya, which complicates payment accountability.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Flaqo’s legal team discovered AIfluence had seemingly abandoned its physical office, effectively making pursuit of payment challenging. This revelation prompted Flaqo to publicly criticize both the agency and OPPO, arguing that the brand bears responsibility for selecting a trustworthy marketing partner.
OPPO Kenya has not remained passive, though. The company has filed a defamation lawsuit against AIfluence and offered legal assistance to affected influencers, though at this point, no creators have yet accepted this offer. The brand has maintained that it values creator partnerships, and it is committed to resolving the situation.
This controversy is only a small part of the numerous vulnerabilities in Kenya’s influencer marketing ecosystem. There’s a lot to be said when it comes to contract transparency, payment mechanisms, and the risks content creators face when working through intermediary agencies.
On the bright side, this whole saga will serve as a watershed moment for content creators in Kenya, who will certainly take a lesson on what not to do as far as digital marketing goes.
