The Government on Thursday, January 12 warned media houses over the mass layoffs that have rocked the media industry over the last three months.
In a meeting with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary (PS) Prof. Edward Kisiangani called out the stations for maltreating their staff.
"Private media owners should not be allowed to threaten the existence of the media through unfriendly business practices. Media workers should be protected from rogue businesses," Kisiangani reiterated.
Kisiang'ani rubbished claims of budget constraints due to low income as the cause of the layoffs.
He explained that the Government Advertising Agency (GAA), the institution charged with running ads on behalf of the state, began settling its debts with the various media outlets.
"Out of the pending Ksh1.2 billion, we have so far released Ksh244 million to media houses. However, no media house has reported this, but continue subjecting their staff to job cuts," the PS stated.
Kisiang'ani stated that the mass firing amounts to maltreatment of workers which the government would not tolerate. Nonetheless, he called for the MCK to streamline the industry.
“The Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of our Constitution gives the media freedom to execute its mandate. However, this should come with utmost responsibility”, Kisiangani added.
He further promised more support from the government by sustaining the current business it floats to media outlets.
On his part, MCK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Omwoyo disclosed that the regulator had initiated a process of reviewing its strategic plan in line with the digital transformation of the media space.
Omwoyo intimated that the council would engage stakeholders in a bid to promote viability and capacity building on coverage of matters of national interest.
He noted that liberalisation of the media space has seen exponential growth of media and asked media organisations to uphold professionalism.
