Sama to lay off over 1,100 employees after Meta ends Nairobi contract

Sama to lay off over 1,100 employees after Meta ends Nairobi contract

Samasource Impact Sourcing Inc (Sama) announced plans to lay off 1,108 employees at its Nairobi office following the termination of a major client contract with tech giant Meta.

In a statement issued on April 16, 2026, the company said it had received formal notice from Meta to end a key engagement that supported a significant portion of its Nairobi operations. Efforts to engage the client and salvage the contract were unsuccessful, prompting the issuance of a redundancy notice to affected staff.

Sama confirmed that the redundancy process is being carried out in accordance with Section 40 of the Employment Act, 2007, with all required notifications issued to relevant parties.
The layoffs will primarily affect employees working on the now-terminated workstream.

Sama Country Lead and Vice President for Global Delivery, Annepeace Alwala, said the company is prioritising support for affected workers during the transition.

“As is standard in our industry, client programs evolve, and we work closely with our partners to manage these transitions responsibly. Our immediate priority is supporting our employees through this change and ensuring continuity across operations,” she said.

Alwala acknowledged the broader impact on both staff and the local community, adding that the company is providing support measures including counselling, medical cover, and other wellness resources.

The Nairobi-based firm, known for providing data annotation services that support artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, said it remains committed to its core operations and maintaining high standards in data security and responsible AI practices.

Sama has been a key player in positioning Kenya as a growing hub in the global AI value chain, working with leading technology companies to deliver data annotation and model evaluation services.