Social media management is no longer just about posting tweets, replying to comments and keeping an account active.
A legal dispute involving the Director-General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) offers a striking reminder that professional digital communication can involve serious money and even more serious contractual consequences.
According to the claim, a communications professional was paid KSh3 million for nine months of social media management work for a government agency boss.
That works out to roughly KSh333,000 per month.
The engagement reportedly involved managing the official's X account, alongside digital communication and efforts to maintain his online visibility.
But what began as a professional communications arrangement has now ended up in court, with the consultant reportedly pursuing an additional KSh5.2 million allegedly arising from the engagement.
If the figures cited in the dispute are taken together, the amount connected to the assignment could reach approximately KSh8.2 million.
The final outcome, however, will depend on the evidence presented and the court's determination. The allegations and claims should not be treated as established facts.
The Bigger Lesson Is About Contracts
Whatever the court ultimately decides, the dispute highlights a lesson that should matter to anyone working in digital communications.
Document everything.
Social media managers, public relations professionals, journalists, influencers, digital marketers and communications consultants increasingly provide services that can carry substantial commercial value.
Yet some engagements still begin with little more than a WhatsApp conversation, a phone call or a verbal understanding.
That can become a major problem when expectations change or the relationship breaks down.
A written agreement should clearly establish the monthly or project fee, duration of the engagement, platforms covered, exact scope of work, content responsibilities, approval procedures, termination terms and payment schedule.
It should also make clear what happens when additional work is requested outside the original agreement.
Millions Can Turn Small Ambiguities Into Big Disputes
An arrangement that appears straightforward at the beginning can quickly become complicated.
Who was responsible for creating content?
Who supplied photographs and videos?
Was the consultant expected to attend events?
Was crisis communication included?
Was the person managing only X or other platforms as well?
How many posts were expected?
Who approved the content?
What happened if the account holder requested work outside normal hours?
And most importantly, what exactly was the agreed payment for?
These details may seem unnecessary when everyone is working well together.
They become extremely important when millions of shillings are being disputed.
WhatsApp Is Not a Substitute for a Proper Agreement
Digital communications can provide evidence that negotiations took place, but relying entirely on WhatsApp messages and verbal promises can leave too much room for disagreement.
A properly drafted contract provides a single reference point for both parties.
It can protect the client from unexpected claims while also protecting the consultant from unpaid work or changing expectations.
For professionals handling high-value assignments, invoices, payment records, deliverables and approval messages should also be retained.
The goal is not to assume that every client will become difficult.
It is to ensure that both sides know exactly what they agreed to before the relationship is tested.
Social Media Management Has Become Real Professional Work
The days when social media management was treated as an informal side hustle are rapidly disappearing.
Managing a public figure's digital presence can involve strategy, writing, audience management, reputation protection, real-time communication, analytics, content production and crisis response.
That is professional communications work.
And professional work should be priced, structured and documented professionally.
The KURA-linked dispute is therefore bigger than one social media account or one contractual disagreement.
It is a reminder to an increasingly valuable digital workforce - if your work is worth millions, your contract should be worth taking seriously too.