Section of Citizen TV Journalists Ordered to Resign

A File Image of Citizen TV Studios
The newly launched Citizen TV Studio with presenters on Sunday, August 7, 2022.
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Digital Tech

Royal Media Services (RMS) has ordered all of its employees who are planning to vie in its year's August General Election to step down.

In a memo signed by Group Managing Director Wachira Waruru, RMS ordered staff members to hand in their resignation letters by March 1, 2022.

The memo that was seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, January 20, 2022, stated that this was in line with the company's policy and implored staff members to adhere to it.

A signboard showing Royal Media Services (RMS) broadcast stations along Dennis Pritt Road.
A signboard showing Royal Media Services (RMS) broadcast stations along Dennis Pritt Road.
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"In line with the company's culture and practice, any employee wishing to contest in any elective position must tender his/her resignation from employment before 1st March 2022.

"If you need any further clarification on this matter, consult your Head of Department or the Human Resources Office," the memo stated.  

RMS issued the directive amid a surge in the number of media personalities who are joining politics.

So far at least five media personalities have expressed their desire to vie for political seats in the upcoming General Election. While some may not have gone into detail about their aspirations, others have openly stated which seats they hope to clinch. 

Kenyans.co.ke established that Kiss FM Presenter Felix Odiwuor has expressed interest in vying for the Lang'ata MP seat. 

Switch TV presenter Tony Kwalanda announced he plans to vie for the Manda Shivanga MCA seat in Malava, Kakamega County. 

Milele FM Radio presenter Alex Mwakideu also revealed plans to vie for a parliamentary seat in Taita Taveta County.

Former K24 News anchor Mwanaisha Chidzuga is vying for the Matuga Parliamentary seat while former Citizen News anchor Jackie Maribe expressed interest in the Murang'a Women Rep position.

A similar order will also affect civil servants who wish to vie for a political seat in 2022. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had asked civil servants to exit office by February 9, 2022, to pursue their political interests. 

However, on January 5, 2022, Judge Monica Mbaru of the Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered that the section of the Elections Act provides for civil servants' mandatory resignation to be stayed.

Many public officers such as Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries, parastatal chairpersons, board members and directors of state agencies have expressed interest in different political seats.

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