OPPO Kenya has now filed a suit against Kenyan startup AIfluence accusing it of failing to pay influencers who had been engaged for the launch of OPPO Reno 12 Series in 2024.

OPPO Kenya revealed, in a statement issued on Monday, that it has sued the marketing agency for defamation and brand harm for failing to meets its obligations to the influencers.

“OPPO Kenya has taken legal action against AIfluence on grounds of defamation and brand harm caused by the agency’s failure to fulfill their payment obligation to the affected influencers,” said OPPO Kenya in a statement.

The press statement comes after Kenyan content creator Flaqo took to social media and blasted OPPO Kenya and Aifluence over his payments that have delayed for five months.

According to OPPO Kenya, AIfluence was responsible for handling influencer contracts, deliverables, and payments and had received full payments for the OPPO Reno 12 launch.

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“OPPO Kenya made a 50 per cent down payment to AIfluence at the start of the campaign and completed the remaining 50 per cent payment on October 25, 2024,” OPPO Kenya added.

OPPO Kenya clarified that all the influencers for the said campaign signed contracts directly with the marketing agency and not with the Chinese tech company resulting in the fallout.

“OPPO Kenya fulfilled all its financial obligations by making full payments to the said agency, AIfluence; this information was communicated to the influencers either directly or through their respective managers.”

The firm indicated that its hands were tied by Kenyan laws from directly pursuing AIfluence on behalf of the influencers to ensure they are paid the millions of shillings owed to them.

“OPPO Kenya has, however, offered legal assistance, including covering legal costs, to the affected influencers as they seek legal action against the agency for lack of compensation, of which none of them has taken up.”

The company has undertaken to work with the influencers, who were engaged for the OPPO Reno 12 Series launch and campaign in Kenya, to ensure they receive their owed payments.

AIfluence, which was co-founded by Nelson Aseka, who also serves as its CEO, is yet to respond to the allegations by OPPO Kenya and influencers led by Flaqo and Bernice Nunah.

Flaqo and Nunah, who both took part in the August 2024 launch, accused OPPO Kenya and AIfluence of pressuring them to create a lot of content in a short span only to delay with their payments for five months.

The ugly row has reignited debate on delayed payments by influencer marketing agencies in Kenya with many content creators often grappling with delayed payments after campaigns.