Standard Media Group Journalists: The Standard Media Group has sent a number of senior staff and journalists home, with more sackings expected in the coming days.
A report that appeared in a local publication said that the most affected are journalists from KTN and KTN News and The Standard print division.
Those who have received their marching orders include KTN Managing Editor Ellen Wanjiru, The Standard Sub-editor Anthony Malesi and Kiswahili TV anchor Frank Otieno. Others are reporters Moses Njagi, KTN News Editor Patrick Injendi, John Atambo (Former Kakamega Bureau Chief) and Protus Onyango.
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The report further said that the affected journalists received their redundancy letters on Sunday, November 29, ahead of their appearance before the Human Resource department on Monday, November 30.
In the report, Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor confirmed being aware of the sackings. “I have heard about it and I have asked the company to explain to us what is happening and if they don’t we will stop it by court. We have given them until the close of business today to explain to us. We have called for a meeting to understand what is going on. Once we agree with them, then we shall see the way forward. We intend to go to court tomorrow,” he said.
This is the second time in less than twelve months that the media house is sacking employees. In March this year, the media house fired 170 employees.
Media houses in Kenya have been sailing in troubled waters due to reduced advertising, delayed payments by the government’s advertising agency, and the advent of digital news coverage and citizen journalism via social media.
In December last year, the Standard Media Group said that its profits would dip by at least 25 per cent in the short term. This dip in profit was attributed to increased newsprint costs and decreased spending power among key existing clients. The media industry, though, is one among multiple industries across Kenya’s economy that are on the verge of collapse due to a badly injured economy. Standard Media Group Journalists.