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UPDATE: Kabete OCPD George Seda spoke to Kenyans.co.ke on May 6, stating that he could not comment on the particular notice.

He further accused those behind the online circulation of the notice of 'seeking sympathy with the media'.

"I can't comment on the particular notice but what I can say is people should not seek sympathy with the media. No one has visited my office and due process is being followed," he asserted.

A storm is brewing in Kabete, Nairobi after tenants at an apartment building clashed with the caretaker over rent arrears, leading to arrests, eviction notices and a pending court case.

An eviction notice from property management company Mark and Jedy seen by Kenyans.co.ke on May 6 informed a tenant that he would have to vacate by May 31, accusing him of threatening to kill a caretaker, inciting fellow tenants and failing to pay rent.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on May 6, a representative of Mark and Jedy claimed that, towards the end of April, a group of tenants had refused to pay rent and even came to their offices to threaten them.

He disclosed that they engaged officers from Kabete Police Station who took action and arrested some of the tenants, with a case pending in court.

Nairobi residents walking to work due to the increased cost of transport within the city.

Kenyans.co.ke

He further revealed that they had issued a number of tenants with eviction notices following the incident, asserting that the widely circulated notice was genuine.

"It's something I saw because I was in the office when they came. They were very loud and physical, and they were threatening everyone and insisting that they will not pay rent.

"We called in officers from Kabete Police Station and some of them were arrested. In fact, there's a pending case in court and we are awaiting directions.

"Others we gave them eviction notices, we expect them to leave by May 31. So the letter you have seen is genuine, it's true what is written," he stated.

Kabete OCPD George Seda was yet to respond to queries made by Kenyans.co.ke by the time of publication.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, many Kenyans have been struggling to fulfill their obligations to landlords across the country.

Cases of landlords evicting tenants over rent arrears have become headline news, with many calling for authorities to impose measures to protect both tenants and landlords feeling the economic pinch.

On April 1, the Landlords and Tenants Association of Kenya (LATAK) called for a rent waiver of three months to be declared.

They also called for a debt moratorium of six months to be placed on loans taken by landlords to finance their real estate projects.

The proposals were informed by the fact that many people had lost dependable sources of income during the pandemic.

An eviction notice seen by Kenyans.co.ke on May 6, 2020

Twitter

A section of Senators has moved to have two estates in Nairobi and Mombasa defined as notorious and placed under total lockdown.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who is heading the motion, explained that the move was necessary because Eastleigh has been notorious in breaking the Covid-19 preventive measures.

He further added that when he introduced the motion, other senators offered that the Old Town of Mombasa should also be placed under lockdown to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

"Concerned that the business community and citizens of Eastleigh town of Nairobi County have been reported not to be observing the enacted measures like business lacking sanitisers and handwashing areas for customers. 

File image of Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.

File

"Now, therefore, the Senate resolves to urge the national government to shut down business operations in Eastleigh until such a time when the Covid-19 curve is flattened in Kenya," read the motion by Malala.

"Eastleigh is at the centre of the economy for Nairobi and if we do not take care of it, I think we shall have a tragedy there. With the lockdown, we are saying that there should be no getting in or out of Eastleigh," explained the senator.

He further noted that as much as the motion was still at the beginning stage, the government would develop a plan for taking care of all the affected people once the lockdown is effected.

"Gradually, we limit the movement and we have a specific population that we are dealing with which we can compel to follow the guidelines. We are aware of the fact that this is the Ramadhan period and so we need to cushion the families that are living there.

"This is a motion. Once it is debated and passed, the resolutions will be taken to the relevant committees for regulations. In coming up with the regulations, that is when they will come up with the nitty gritties of having a budget and the rest," he told Kenyans.co.ke.

"When I introduced the bill, people started suggesting that we can expand to include other regions like Mombasa Old Town," he added.

Eastleigh is the highest Nairobi Estate with positive cases after recording 29 cases on Tuesday,  May 5, raising its total cases to 63.

Mombasa Old Town has recorded 39 cases out of the country's total of 535.

This comes even as residents of the two estates openly defy social distancing directives and grudgingly vow not to observe social-distancing.

Residents out in the streets in Eastleigh, Nairobi on January 18, 2019.

The Standard

Owago Onyiro is one of the endeared comedians to have ever graced Churchill Show. The artist's creativity saw him travel for international tours as he also worked as a show host at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) before quitting in 2019.  

However, not many are familiar with Owago's past career, one which he reiterates he will one day turn back to saying he views it is a calling.

Speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, May 5, Owago disclosed that before rising to fame, he was a lecturer at a private university in Nairobi.

File image of former KBC show host Comedian Owago Onyiro

Instagram

"I used to teach Bachelor of Arts at the campus. I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Kenya Polytechnic and this enabled me to teach Mathematics too," Owago stated.

Owago disclosed that he landed the job through an old friend from college and luck was on his side as he landed the job.

"I lectured for one and a half years. It is not a tough job, you engage the students and have fun," Owago added. 

However, as he later met Daniel Ndambuki (Churchill), his life took a turn and he decided to quit teaching for comedy.

"I found it hard to balance teaching with comedy, and I decided to focus on comedy. 

"I would love to go back to teaching one day, as that is a part of my life. Possession of education credentials is one important thing in this world. They come in handy at every juncture despite someone focusing entirely on something different," Owago advised.

The comedian also boasts of cooking skills, an art he shares on his Instagram pages, and showcases it too on various platforms. 

"I decided to turn to cooking after Coronavirus pandemic broke out. When you look at my pages, I celebrate my fans (customers) who purchase fish. I deliver to them the fish immediately after they order. Prices vary from Ksh350 to Ksh1,000.

"On a bad day, I can deliver 8 fish. On a good day, I can deliver over 25," Owago revealed, on Monday, May 4, as his colleague Felix Odiwour (Jalang'o) marvelled at how the comedian makes sales, approximately in the hundreds of thousands in a month as the two cooked a sumptuous fish meal on Jalango's YouTube show, Bonga na Jalas. 

From left: Comedians Felix Odiwour (Jalang'o) and Owago Onyiro pose for a photo before cooking a meal on Jalaang'os YouTube Show Bonga na Jalas on Monday, May 4, 2020

File

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe is at the forefront of the country's fight against Covid-19, and so far enjoys a lot of goodwill from Kenyans as he steers the country away from the pandemic.

On Saturday, March 28, while addressing the media at Afya House, Kagwe asked Kenyans to adhere to quarantine directives. He also informed the nation that his son was placed under quarantine as a way of making Kenyans understand the need to protect each other.

"I can tell you at a personal level, I have a son and a niece under quarantine," Kagwe stated.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addresses a press conference on Covid-19 in Nairobi in March 2020

File

One of Kagwe's four children, Kahu Mburu Mutahi (Kahush) is a Hip Hop rapper, with a song that topped the airwaves since its release on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

Mi Siwezi (I Can't) has been played severally by top DJs in the country including DJ John Rabar of Homeboyz Radio, husband to NTV presenter Amina Abdi.

"His sound definitely fits our style and music as Homeboyz's primarily focus on pushing Hip Hop. One thing he did well is the production and vocal arrangement. His work is clear and easy to follow. It may be because he is producing from abroad. But he also needs to work harder and maintain the flow," DJ John lauded while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke on Wednesday, April 29.

"We encourage people to follow their art. You cannot focus on doing blue-collar jobs only. You can enjoy what you do and focus on your art. By doing so, even your parents can love what you do," he added with reference to Kahush's decision to steer away from politics.

According to Gearbox, an IT website, Kahush who is also an IT student in Leicester, UK, developed a system that is able to sense motion and manage lighting in rooms depending on the motion detected thus saving energy as many people forget to turn off lights. 

File image of Kahu Mburu Mutahi (Kahush), CS Mutahi Kagwe's son and a business student displaying his automated Lighting and Motion Sensor System at a workshop

File

His automated Lighting and Motion Sensor System works by managing how much energy is used in the lighting of spaces around the house by regulating the lighting systems whether there are people in the house or not. 

The system turns on the light in a room when someone gets into the room and switches it off immediately they leave,

“This would be helpful when someone is in a room engaged in an activity, could move a limb and the system would respond appropriately instantly. This system would be helpful to people who are physically challenged, the aged and children who are still young and would be needed to use certain rooms. The system eliminates the need to switch on or off the lights," he stated while explaining his innovation.

On his music, he states he is influenced by Khaligraph Jones and Magix Enga in Kenya as he hopes to make more hit songs.

"Recognizing I can make art that could live, be remembered and affect someone is what inspired me.  I’d say I’m influenced by Jason Kalinga, J Cole, Thugger, Uzi, Santi, SZA and TNT. I look up to Sauti Sol, Khaligraph Jones, Magix Enga and Lupita Nyong'o," Kahush stated in an interview with a local media outlet. 

Video: YouTube/Kahush

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Kenya Film and Classification Board Chief Executive Officer, Ezekiel Mutua has launched a Ksh100,000 monthly cash prize for clean Covid-19 content.

Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, April 28, the renowned moral cop informed that his agency had taken the effort to appreciate the creativity directed towards the relay of positive and informative Covid-19 content.

"We are doing it monthly. As we speak we have seven official nominees for the month of May," Mutua stated, noting that Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and his sons had released their video on March 28, 2020, and were rewarded.

"The nominations come and then we look at the content, and so far for the month of April, we have received seven nominations through the official channel, to be awarded at the end of May. Out of the nominees every month, we are giving Ksh100,000, so we are only picking numbers 1 and 2," he informed.

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) chief executive officer Ezekiel Mutua (right) addressing a press conference at KFCB offices in April 2016

Daily Nation

He stated that the two winners would be awarded equally, noting that the content was similar and informative, and the difference could only be reviews on social media.

Mutua explained that the reward was carried forward to the following month to allow for an extensive nomination process, as well as allow for enough time to conduct a review on the content.

He acknowledged the efforts by members of the public to propagate positive messages on social media and went on to urge young Kenyans to explore creativity in educating the public, and in turn, get rewarded for it.

The KFCB boss further informed that his office was committed to appreciating growing talent, in the country's entertainment industry.

"We are doing it every month particular during this period of Covid-19 to ensure that young people using simple gadgets can create content that is very funny, comical, witty but is not dirty," Mutua pronounced, reiterating that content does not have to be dirty to sell.

"We are telling them, use your phone, the simplest tools that you have and send us the clip. You first need your phone and a good idea. One that promotes our culture, our values and we will be giving Ksh100,000 a month,

"It is what we are doing and is a way of appreciating artists putting out clean content so that they also feel appreciated, and it doesn't come out that we are only banning," he reiterated.

Mutua told our newsdesk that KFCB had conducted a test run for the initiative, and though the pilot project did not record many nominees, the number of entrants for the second month had picked up the pace.

"We are refining the criteria to see if we can collaborate with other people. We have received a request for collaboration from the Communication Authority of Kenya and we are going to send them a proposal to see how we can collaborate," he informed.

Mutua affirmed that the first beneficiaries of the initiative, musician Esther Akoth alias Akothee, and Senator Sakaja and sons, had been rewarded for the content they put out. They both received Ksh50,000 each for the content shared in the month of March 2020.

He revealed that the award-winning artist had received the funds and had pledged to also assist those in need during this period.

Mutua explained that his office was determined to reward members of the public regardless of the social status but was very considerate of the content put out.

The KFCB boss revealed the board was expanding its scope to not only video and music but also online content including blogs and several other communication avenues, as a way of championing for clean and informative content.

"This is a clean content campaign. It's about ensuring that we give incentives during this period; that artists create content that is inspiring and gives hope," Mutua asserted.

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja makes his remarks during the launch of a report titled Job Entry Level Skills launched at the Serena Hotel on November 6, 2019.

Daily Nation

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir on Tuesday, April 28 spoke to Kenyans.co.ke and broke down his plan to push for the waiver of all fees demanded from individuals in government-designated quarantine facilities across the country.

Describing the mandatory fees as 'unfair', Nassir, however, asserted that his proposed waiver would not apply to those taken to quarantine centres for flouting various government directives on Covid-19.

He spoke after paying a visit to the quarantine facility at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Mombasa where, through the Shariff Nassir Foundation, he partnered with donors to supply those at the facility with three decent meals a day for the next 45 to 60 days.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir washes his hands at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Mombasa during the launch of a sensitization campaign on April 28, 2020

Facebook

"I think in this situation, if you're telling people they have to pay, it's very unfair, unfortunate and backward.

"You're telling someone to pay because they came into contact with an infected person. They might have been at the supermarket or going about their usual activities when they were exposed, but you want them to pay, it's a bit disturbing.

"And it's not little money, Ksh 2,000 a day is a lot of money. For 14 days that's Ksh 28,000. That is someone's entire salary and right now, people are not working due to the Coronavirus.

"I will be pushing in Parliament for the government to withdraw these charges entirely, but you should note that this will not apply to those found breaking the law," he asserted.

Abdulswamad revealed that he would also be pushing for the national government to offer subsidies to institutions such as KMTC which have been running the quarantine facilities, observing that they were feeling the financial burden as the country responds to Covid-19.

Explaining his decision to find ways to provide food at KMTC Mombasa for the duration of the quarantine period, Abdulswamad stated that such institutions had been seriously impacted by the pandemic.

"What we're trying to do is to ease the pressure on these institutions, which is why we've made arrangements for them to be receiving food items.

"But I also think it's important for the national government to provide certain subsidies for the institutions," he noted.

Nassir revealed other measures he was implementing to protect his constituents as the shocks of the pandemic continue to be felt.

On April 22, for instance, he earned plaudits after inking a deal with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide medical cover for 2,000 vulnerable families in Mvita Constituency.

The deal funded by the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is worth around Ksh12 million.

The insurance program covers, among other ailments, Covid-19, Cancer, x-ray, and dialysis; both inpatient and outpatient.

The lawmaker also donated his entire salary to support efforts to combat the virus in Mombasa County and is behind a proposed bill pushing for the waiver of all electricity bills for Kenyans during the Covid-19 period.

Watch a video of part of Abdulswamad's speech below:

Years before the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi waltzed into Embakasi East MP Babu Owino's life with big money, the lawmaker was just a next-door broke boy whose mother sold illicit brew for a living.

Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, the legislator admitted that Gaddafi played a huge role in kickstarting his political career and life in general by bankrolling his activities.

He disclosed that the former Libyan president noticed him, a budding political personality, and sent his people to meet him in Kenya.

After some time, Gaddafi, who paid for his education as well as bankrolled his political activities while at the University of Nairobi, reportedly wanted to see Owino and so he was flown to Libya to meet the leader who he referred to as his best friend.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaking during a donation drive on April 11, 2020.

KNA

"Gaddafi sent his people to me and I went to see him in Libya. He was my Godfather. He used to sponsor my Sonu (Student organization of Nairobi University) elections," the lawmaker confided to Kenyans.

Gaddafi was killed in 2011 in a beastly manner in the Libyan city of Sirte in which witnesses claim were by gunshots. According to videos that circulated across the world at the time, a bloodied Gaddafi was seen in an unconscious state with blood smeared across his face.

“They captured him alive and while he was being taken away, they beat him and then they killed him. “He might have been resisting," a source told Reuters at the time.

For Owino, the whole scene was traumatic because he considered the man as his godfather and that when news of his death was broken, the legislator admitted that he felt like dying as well.

"I’m saddened to date by his death. I felt like dying. I’m still mourning him and I will meet again with him," he told this writer.

In a previous interview, the outspoken lawmaker admitted that after Gaddafi's execution, he was left a political orphan fearful or exposing his international friends as they would be targeted as well.

“Long ago, Libya’s late president, Muammar Gadaffi used to be my best friend, and he used to finance me.

“When he passed on, I was left a financial orphan and decided to look for other international friends,” he stated at the time.

The late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi who was executed in October 2011.

Twitter

Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has disrupted life and virtually with the world on lockdown, its effects are adverse as it has affected almost every industry you can mention, both in public and private sectors. Employers and employees have been hit in equal measure and it is hard to juggle who between the two is deeply affected unless you try fitting in their shoes. 

Economic experts, from David Ndii to the World Bank and government analysts have predicted a tough year and a shrinking economy, as everyone tries to make ends meet. Employers, government and banks are hatching measures to cushion themselves, their employees and their jobs from looming disaster with plans to revive the economy .

In Kenya, a number of employees have been sent on paid leave, unpaid leave, others have been asked to take pay cuts voluntarily or compulsorily. Others have been laid off in worst-case scenarios.  However, what worries most is the rising trend of employees quitting their jobs, despite the tough economy. 

File image of Kenyan banknotes held in a hand on January 25, 2020.

Simon Kiragu

Kenyans.co.ke

A hotel worker, who spoke with Kenyans.co.ke, stated that she quit over frustrations at work based on bias and the need by her employer to operate at low costs.

"At my workplace, we were asked to take unpaid leave but were also informed that we would be called on rotation and be paid on wages. That never happened as my employer decided to stick with two employees. Apparently the aged ones. Maybe they were prioritised due to them having families or more demands. The rotation never took place. 

"What hurts most is that they make a lot of money through home deliveries, triple what we used to make monthly as I was the cashier. Despite the high income, they decided to pay the two workers half their salary. I decided to quit," she disclosed.

On survival, she finds it hard to find a meal and has to rely on her sister who has an established family. However, her landlord was understanding and asked her not to pay rent until she was financially stable.

Another one who quit working at a private firm stated that the environment had become toxic and the pressure emanating from work and that of the Coronavirus crisis itself was hard to manage.

"I wanted to go home and relax. I don't have any plans yet and I don't know how I will survive, but I just had to because everything was taking a toll on me," he stated.

On Wednesday, March 25 President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a raft of measures that would see Kenyans pay reduced taxes, as the government tried to ease the burden on employees and employers. All individuals earning a monthly salary of Ksh 24,000 and below would receive a waiver in PAYE tax as the Credit Reference Bureau listing was also suspended temporarily. This means that defaulters of loans within the suspension period would not be listed.

Despite offering such a relief, Nicholas Gachara, a financial expert argues that the move has made Kenyans turn to easy loans to survive through the crisis as banks also offer low interest loans at this crisis period.

"Kenyans are taking massive loans to pay rents for over five months, in places where their landlords have not eased terms. Remember the government is playing cagey with the rent issue, not offering an open solution but letting landlords decide whether to waiver rent or not. Other Kenyans are taking loans to stock food as they quit work to stay at home. This is a worrying trend because in as much as you take a loan right now, remember you will have to pay later.

"It's an unprecedented time but while at home, instead of staying idle, you can pick new skills online, do courses such as accountancy or look for online jobs to at least earn some money which will save you from huge loans post Coronavirus," Gachara advised while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses the nation at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, March 25, 2020

PSCU

According to the expert, economy revival in Kenya will be challenging and will affect everyone again. The analyst states that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had predicted that Kenya's economy would rise by 6% in 2020, but has now warned that it would grow by 1% only post Coronavirus. 

"Although the Central Bank of Kenya states that the economy will grow by 3%, I beg to differ. After the pandemic, economic activities will pick slowly and there will be challenges of loan repayment and taxes may rise as the government focuses on recovery. Remember, right now they have cut spending on development and are focusing on the Covid-19 fight. We also have a locust invasion draining the economy. There will be high rates of loan defaulters and auctions. I hope the government will provide more measures to save Kenyans," Gachara analysed.

Snaida Ayub, a professional counsellor on her end, stated that before quitting, one had to ensure they had a solid plan or would try and find a solution with employers. 

"There is what we call accumulated stress as one sees that their input is not bearing fruits at work and thus decides to quit. People are also affected by trauma as they face several challenges. From beating curfew, or having solid internet plans and pressure at work. My take is that employers can come up with psychological aid for workers, alongside the government's public counselling call lines set up nationwide.

"However, remember the public aid is accessed by many people and may not offer assistance to one's satisfaction. Private counsellors should seize this moment and offer aid, both through online platforms or calls too," Ayub stated in an interview with Kenyans.co.ke. 

A model illustration of a lady using a phone in an image dated 2019.

Simon Kiragu

Kenyans.co.ke

The Ali Hassan Joho-led Mombasa County Government unveiled a new initiative in which it teamed up with artists from around the county to create stunning street art intended to get people's attention and raise awareness on the Covid-19.

Images of murals on walls in Mombasa's Buxton area began being widely circulated on social media on Thursday, April 23.

Kenyans.co.ke caught up with the county's acting Chief Officer in the Department of Tourism, Asha Abdi, to shed more light on the origins of the project, it's future, Joho's role in it as well as more on the county's response to the pandemic.

Mombasa County Acting Tourism Chief Officer Asha Abdi (centre) inspects a project at Tononoka Grounds, Mombasa on March 14, 2020

Twitter

Joho's administration has earned plaudits for its proactive response which has included a collaborative approach involving the national government, religious leaders, civil society and regular citizens among others.

The street art project, Asha revealed, was part of the county's long-term plan to promote tourism and brand the county appropriately and had actually started around six months ago in the Old Town area.

The Covid-19 pandemic, however, inspired the idea to have youth and artists from Mombasa contribute to the efforts to combat the pandemic through art.

"We've been using various platforms including radio interviews and press conferences to communicate to the public. You've seen the Governor at the forefront as we try to flatten the curve here in Mombasa.

"But with the pandemic we thought, other than doing these pressers and radio interviews, we can partner with local youth to communicate various messages through art. There's a special way you can communicate through art.

"For example in one piece they showed about care and communities, showing the need to care for each other. Another piece shows how we are working together to fight this, you see the governor, a police officer, religious leaders and citizens," she noted.

She revealed that the decision to begin with Buxton was strategic, explaining that they were targeting places that could easily be seen so as to easily draw attention and raise awareness on precautionary measures and the pandemic in general.

"We started with Buxton because it is very accessible to the public. All the onlookers moving between Nyali and the mainland are able to see it. The artists are communicating various different messages but the priority right now is educating the people.

"We'll be doing them in public areas, like on the bridges where they can easily be seen by everyone moving around," she noted.

Asha further disclosed that, in addition to gaining a platform to showcase their work, the artists were being adequately compensated.

"The governor has been leading from the front but he's been taking a very collaborative approach. This is just an extension of that because now we are bringing in youth and artists who feel a sense of ownership and responsibility.

"What artists in Mombasa have always been asking us for is a platform to showcase their talents, we are giving them that platform but of course we are also compensating them for their time," she confirmed.

The Chief Officer also spoke on how the county was innovating in response to the pandemic so as to take care of its people and curb the spread of the virus.

"There's a lot going on but for instance, there's the nutrition program which seeks to feed 227,000 families.

"As a county, we have already developed an application through the ICT department that has allowed us to map out all these beneficiaries. We are making deliveries of the food packages door to door to ensure there is no chaos. 

"We have also launched an online portal through a partnership with the private sector. It's an online funds drive where we've made all the payment platforms accessible so that anyone who wants to contribute can do so at any time. The money donated will go towards purchasing food for households and improving the medical preparedness," she explained.

On the response to the art in Buxton, Asha revealed that it had been overwhelming but it was only the beginning.

"The reaction is overwhelming to an extent so we feel we are getting what we wanted in terms of raising awareness.

"Even two or three days ago when it was still a work in progress in Buxton, you could see people impressed, taking time to explore and analyse the art," she stated.

Sample some of the art below:

An art piece pictured in Buxton, Mombasa on April, 23, 2020

Twitter

An art piece commissioned by the Mombasa County Government pictured in Buxton, Mombasa on April, 23, 2020

Twitter

An art piece commissioned by the Mombasa County Government pictured in Buxton, Mombasa on April, 23, 2020

Twitter

On Friday, April 17, Mediamax Network Limited, which owns K24 TV announced a pay-cut of between 20% and 50 % of all its staff across its broadcasting, online and print divisions to cushion the company from the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The media house announced that it had reached the decision after a meeting by the top leadership.

On receiving formal letters on Tuesday, April 21, however, Mediamax employees went on a go-slow, lamenting that the letters did not document the period of time within which, they would get their salaries slashed.

A section of an empty office at Mediamax on Tuesday, April 21.

Go slow

Several employees who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke stated that some of the employees did not report to work on Tuesday, April 21.

"Everybody is condemning the letter and have, hence, gone on a go-slow because the letter does not substantiate after how long their salaries will be slashed. As of today, the employees have started receiving their letters," one source told our newsdesk.

Kenyans.co.ke has established that journalists in the media house have already taken the matter to court and are awaiting a ruling.

"Employees are looking forward to a court injunction at the moment. Until then, when they know the real fate, they will be on a go-slow," anotether source added.

The management is set to have a meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 21, to come up with an amicable solution.

Attempts by our newsdesk to get a response from Mediamax acting CEO Ken Ngaruiya did not bear any fruit.

Mediamax Network acting Chief Executive Officer Ken Ngaruiya

K24 Digital

Dreaded Paycut 

An excerpt from a letter received by one of the journalists in the media house seen by Kenyans.co.ke under the reference 'Formal request for your consent for a temporary reduction of your salary' reads as follows:

"Reference is made to the CEO’s update on the effect of the crisis occasioned by the Covid-19 virus on our business. We take further reference from the said update and hereby confirm that the proposal to reduce monthly pay is applicable to you. 

"Your current monthly pay before taxes and other deductions is KES ……. The proposal is to reduce it by 50% before tax and other deductions. Your new gross monthly pay will be KES …….. The proposal further is to effect these changes in your April, 2020 pay. Please be advised that we shall review the situation periodically based on revenue, cash flow and the state of the business going forward,"

Delayed payments

Other sources who spoke to our newsdesk disclosed that staff who work for Kameme FM, which is also owned by Mediamax, have not received their March salaries.

Other media houses

The incident came days after Standard Media Group was stopped by the Employment and Labor Relations Court at Milimani law courts from slashing their employees salaries.

This is after the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), which has a collective agreement with the media house, filed a case seeking to stop it from actualising the directive that had been documented on April 7, 2020.

Royal Media Services and Radio Africa also instituted salary cuts for their employees.

All media houses have cited shrinking revenues with advertising departments particularly taking a hit during the Covid-19 period.

They all maintained that wage cuts were part of a raft of cost-cutting measures being implemented to ensure the organizations stay afloat.

A section of an empty office at Mediamax on Tuesday, April 21.