Tension at Standard Media Group(SG) as staff Redundancy and mass firing kicks off

 

Anxiety mounts at Standard Group PLC after reports surfaced that the media house has begun a process of firing almost half of its journalists.

Sources indicate that the axe already commenced on staff and some of whom have been at the station for decades.

The concerned are journalists picked from the TV division involving KTN and KTN News as well as The Standard print division.

KTN Managing Editor Ellen Wanjiru and The Standard Sub-editor Mr Anthony Malesi are on the shocker list.

Others are reporters Moses Njagi, KTN News Editor Patrick Injendi, John Atambo (Former Kakamega Bureau Chief) and Protus Onyango.

More journalists at the station were on the pipeline as the management termed it as a redundancy move.

One of the victims revealed that they been given letters on Sunday, November 29, ahead of their appearance before the Human Resource departments on Monday, November 30.

"The affected journalists received email communication yesterday informing them that they have been declared redundant. They were to have a virtual meeting today, but that was dropped this morning. They were then asked to avail themselves at the HR office to pick their letters. It's a purge, " one of the journalists in the list stated.

"Some of those affected will attend a virtual meeting with the HR as they were on assignment and are currently on self-isolation," stated the source.

A senior editor verified that Monday was their last day and that the company proposed to pay the fired staff a redundancy package in four instalments spread but the concerned journalists refused to sign threatening court action.

KTN News anchor Frank Otieno got a promotion to head the Education Desk at Standard Media Group alongside print journalist Austin Oduor.

Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary-General Eric Oduor said that the union was considering legal action to pause the mass firing after declaring its stand on the station giving an ultimatum to explain itself.

"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 the 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," stated Oduor.