ODM’s Communications Director Philip Etale has revealed how then horrible now struggling Royal Media Services sacked him years ago.
“When I was sacked from RMS a couple of years ago, for no reason at all, I shed a tear. This came at a time when I was financially low with a loan in the bank to service. I cried at the HR’s office. She said “I personally like you”. I went home, prayed to God. Today, I smile.” Etale posted on Twitter.
Another freelancer journalist, who, also according to his reply, was the former employee of RMS posted this.
And my case was even worse. After serving radio citizen as a reporter for 10 years in Kakamega and Kisumu , Madam boss Mercy Oburu just called me one morning and told me to quit. She did that just a few hours after praising me as a very good reporter.
— DAVID HARISON OLUOCH (@DAVIDHA42560292) June 23, 2020
Philip Etale, while responding to the reply Harrison Oluoch, narreted how he way fired over a phone at 3.
Hehe same thing here. She together with assignment editor Mr. Muthigani had praised me in the morning saying how I was so useful to the company. At 3:30pm, just after returning from the field, she called me and told me to go and see the HR Manager Ma’am Lucy Njimu. I shed a tear
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) June 23, 2020
After the sack, I lost a number of friends. I was lonely. I was treated like a stray dog. I kept crying every time I missed appointments for lack of fare to town. My mother & dad stood with me (may they RIP). Today, I have hundreds of friends and millions of admirers #GodFirst
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) June 23, 2020
Philip Etale and Harrison were responding to the News of yet another wave of lay-offs that has hit the Kenyan mainstream media industry.
Media can sometimes be funny; how come when one is hired, they highlight it & give accolades. When one of their own walks down the aisle; they make it sweet entertainment news and the caster says “wow, that was fun”. But when one gets sacked, it is no news at all. Why?
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) June 23, 2020
Macharia-owned Royal Media Services (RMS) has fired some of its members of staff a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mediamax Network Limited sacked nearly the entire K24 TV’s editorial team.
RMS’s radio department staffs received redundancy letters. Top on the list of radio personalities alleged to have been sent home recently include Radio Citizen presenters Syombua Osiany, John Maloba, Himenigilder Mugeni.
Hot 96 FM Presenter Nancy Wanjiku Karanja popularly known to her fans as Shix Kapienga is also said to have been laid off.
Shix Kadushelele Kapienga, who doubles up as a comedian and actor, hosted Drop Zone “County Assembly” on Hot 96 FM Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.
According to an insider privy to these details, the axe, will fall on several other journalists in other departments in the coming days.
In 2016 Royal Media hit headlines after laying off dozens including top anchors and reporters in what the management termed as a restructuring move.
The Samuel Macharia-owned media house is the holding company for Citizen TV, Inooro TV and a number of vernacular radio stations.
Just like other players in the media industry, RMS has been greatly affected by the coronavirus pandemic that continues to take a toll on businesses in the country.
In March this year, Managing Director Wachira Waruru announced up to 30 per cent salary cuts as part of the company’s efforts to stay afloat as the pandemic effects continue to eat into its profits.
In the same months, Uhuru’s Mediamax Services Limited, the holding company for K24 TV and Kameme TV, People Daily, Milele FM and several vernacular radio stations, had also taken a similar route but faced opposition with its staff moving to court to block the company from effecting up to 50 per cent cuts.
The company had also alleged to have signed a partneship deal with KTN News TV after firing all news staff. The deal has since collapsed due to political interests and differences between the CEO’s.
On Sunday, three day ago, most of the journalists that had opposed the pay cuts were sacked via night SMS.
Some of the notable faces fired include Sam Njoroge, Rose Gakuo, Fred Indimuli (K24 poached him from Citizen TV in 2018), Eric Njoka, Karen Karimi, Isabella Kituri, Nancy Onyancha, Caren Kibett, Shon Osimbo, Sara Adams, Joy Kariuki, Joab Mwaura, Tony Khwalanda and Milele FM presenter Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o.
