Over the years, prominent personnel in the media industry have been laid off for different reasons, ranging from redundancy to misunderstandings with management.
While others were fired through official letters, some learnt of their contract termination over the phone. However, some were less fortunate to be fired minutes before going on air.
Some of the journalists fired minutes before going live included Terryanne Chebet, Kirigo Ng'arua, and Eric Njoka.
Terryanne Chebet
The veteran journalist was fired from Citizen TV in 2016 while preparing to interview a cabinet secretary.
During an interview with the Social Newsroom in January 2023 hosted by Mark Masai and Denis Okari, the journalist narrated the ordeal of being fired at the peak of her career.
"Nothing prepares you for how that feels like, I was supposed to interview a Cabinet Secretary at the time but I was sacked instead," she remarked.
She currently works at CNBC Africa as a Senior Correspondent where she joined in January 2023.
Kirigo Ng'arua
Kirigo was caught off guard by the abrupt decision to let her go from Citizen TV in 2016.
According to the former host of the Power Breakfast Show, it never crossed her mind that she would lose her job amid the retrenchment.
"I was in the office, I was actually preparing for the 1 pm news. It was around 12.30 pm, and I was literally the second person on the list to be called in," she narrated.
Eric Njoka
In 2019, Njoka was fired at KTN under Standard Media Group.
The former K24 TV anchor recalled that he was laid off barely minutes before he presented the news. He described the incident as one of the most painful moments in his life.
"I remember that day, I was preparing to read the primetime news when I was called by the Human Resources Manager at Standard Group.
"When I was fired, it was hard to take in. I just got in my car and drove away along Mombasa road to Makueni," he recalled.
On the other hand, journalist Moses Kanyiri was fired from Kameme FM while on air.
"I was laid off, unfortunately, it happened while I was presenting 1 pm news," he stated during a past interview.
After the bulletin, he informed his fans that he was leaving the vernacular radio station.
