Willis Raburu frustrated after waiting a year for corporate payment
By Paulette Mboga, August 26, 2025Media personality Willis Raburu has opened up about a difficult ordeal that many Kenyans in the creative and professional spaces can relate to: delayed payments from big corporations.
The former TV journalist and radio host revealed that he has been chasing a corporate client for nearly a year without success, despite repeated follow-ups.
Raburu, who has worked with several top brands over the years, shared his frustration online on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, highlighting how disheartening it is to be taken in circles while waiting for money that is rightfully owed.
He candidly asked his followers, “Mtu hufanya aje kama a big corporate imekutumia, and almost a year later, despite several follow-ups, hawajakulipa ni kukupeleka roundi?”
Growing problem for creatives
In his post, Raburu also ran a poll for his fans, giving them two options on how to handle the matter: “expose them so we know” or “usipigane na ndovu kunya.” The second option, loosely translated, suggests that one should avoid fighting with powerful entities, as the consequences might be too heavy to bear.
His remarks touched a nerve among many Kenyans, especially freelancers, artists, and influencers, who have often raised similar complaints about delayed or withheld payments from large organisations. While corporates enjoy the visibility and creativity that media personalities bring to their campaigns, there have been increasing calls for accountability and timely compensation.
Delayed payments not only cause financial strain but also discourage professionals from trusting corporate partnerships in the future. For many creatives who depend on such gigs for their livelihood, waiting months, or even years, for payment can be devastating.
Raburu’s outcry adds to a growing conversation on the importance of respecting contracts and valuing talent in Kenya’s media and entertainment industry. Many argue that corporations should set the standard by paying their service providers promptly, rather than forcing them into endless follow-ups.
His public frustration serves as both a personal plea and a reminder of the need for structural reforms in the way businesses handle creatives. While some advised him to expose the company in question, others urged caution, noting that public confrontations with powerful organisations could have professional repercussions.