Kenyan boycott history

 


Boycotts have been a powerful tool for social and political change throughout history. They are a form of protest in which individuals or groups refuse to engage in a particular activity or purchase goods or services from a specific company or organization as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction with their policies or practices. Boycotts have been used to advocate for social justice, environmental sustainability, labor rights, and more. In Kenya, there have been several notable boycotts in recent years that have had varying levels of success.

Boycott of Safaricom (2019):

In March 2019, a group of Kenyan activists called for a boycott of Safaricom, the country's largest mobile phone network, to protest what they saw as the company's complicity in government censorship and human rights violations. The activists claimed that Safaricom had helped the government to shut down social media platforms during the 2017 presidential election, and had provided the government with information about opposition supporters. The boycott did not appear to have a significant impact on Safaricom's profits.

Boycott of Brookside Dairy (2016):

In 2016, Kenyan dairy farmers organized a boycott of Brookside Dairy, a major milk processor owned by the family of former president Mwai Kibaki. The farmers were protesting what they saw as unfair pricing practices by the company, which they claimed had driven many small-scale dairy farmers out of business. The boycott was partially successful, as Brookside agreed to increase the price it paid to farmers for their milk.

Boycott of British Airways (2003):

In 2003, the Kenyan government called for a boycott of British Airways in response to the UK government's decision to ban Kenya Airways from flying to London due to safety concerns. The Kenyan government claimed that the ban was discriminatory and based on false information. The boycott did not appear to have a significant impact on British Airways' profits.

Boycott of electoral process (2017):

In 2017, opposition leader Raila Odinga called for a boycott of the presidential election, claiming that the process was rigged in favor of the incumbent president, Uhuru Kenyatta. The boycott was partially successful, as voter turnout was lower than in previous elections. However, Kenyatta was declared the winner of the election, and the opposition's claims of fraud were dismissed by the courts. The boycott sparked protests and violence in some parts of the country.

 

Conclusion:

Boycotts have been a powerful tool for achieving social and political change in Kenya and around the world. While some boycotts have been successful in achieving their goals, others have had little impact on the targeted company or organization. The success of a boycott often depends on factors such as the level of public support, the company's response, and the goals of the boycott. Regardless of their impact, boycotts remain an important form of peaceful protest that can be used to bring attention to important issues and advocate for change.

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