Efforts by the top management of the Standard Media Group to contain the ongoing talent haemorrhage are seemingly futile after three more journalists called it quits.
A highly-placed source at the Mombasa Road-based media house intimated to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, November 15, that medical journalist, Dr. Mercy Korir, news anchor Sharon Momanyi and seasoned Foreign Affairs editor, Lilian Odera had resigned.
Dr Korir has already joined AAR Hospital as its Business Development Manager effective immediately.
Her new role will entail bringing her vast experience in the medical and communication sector to position AAR Hospital as the choice Health provider for Kenyans.
"As the Hospital's Business Development Manager, Dr Korir will oversee the hospital's external communication and brand positioning, establish new business lines and new revenue streams.
"Specifically, she will be responsible for developing strategic Business Development, Public Relations, and Corporate Social Responsibility plans for the hospital to attract potential clients and retain existing ones," read part of the statement, seen by Kenyans.co.ke.
Dr Korir's departure is undoubtedly a massive dent, having helped KTN News stand out, especially in authoritative coverage of health matters.
On the other hand, while Lilian Odera's next move is not known, she is likely to delve into entrepreneurship after she founded Lisha Communications in November 2022- as per her LinkedIn page. Odera is a veteran journalist in Kenya's media industry, with a rich network and an unmatched understanding of foreign affairs content.
Save for KTN News, no other media house in Kenya has a foreign affairs desk. She was the force behind Africa Speaks.
Notably, the exit of Sharon Momanyi could spell doom for the already wounded media giant, clutching onto straws to remain afloat. Momanyi has been KTN News' Features Editor for the past couple of years.
Mass Exodus
Kenyans.co.ke understands that KTN's health desk is now a shell of its former self with Korir's exit. The desk was dealt a huge blow in July 2022 after its reporters were reassigned to various positions in a mini-reshuffle. It could as well be folded.
In addition, sources within the listed company claimed that the media house has failed to pay staff salaries for the past three months - many are running on empty.
"Guys have not been paid for like three months. The last time we were paid was for August which was remitted in September.
"They should pay on the 26th of every month. There are those people who can't come to work naturally because they do not have money," a source previously told Kenyans.co.ke
The salary delays are also coupled with a looming mass firing that is likely to see hundreds of journalists let go in a bid to salvage the company from an economic crisis.
Kenyans.co.ke understands that the company could trim its payroll anytime, with some sources intimating that Orlando Lyomu, the Group Chief Executive Officer may have turned to a delay tactic to allow impatient workers to fall off.
