Radio Africa to countersue Shaffie Weru, Demand Ksh150 million

Media personality Shaffie Weru in his car
Media personality Shaffie Weru in his car
File

Radio Africa Group, the former employer of media personality Shaffie Weru, has responded to his demand letter and indicated that it would countersue him for Ksh150 million.

Weru, through his lawyers, had demanded to be paid Ksh21,157,500 for unfair and unlawful termination of his contract.

Radio Africa has responded to Weru's demands saying that it would sue Weru for breach of contract and negligence. 

Media personality Shaffie Weru in studio
Media personality Shaffie Weru in studio
File

The company and its subsidiary Homeboyz Radio 2017 Limited argued that it had suffered loss of business and reputational damage of the companies’ 15-year-old and 20-year-old brands.

"His actions were unconscionable and amount to severe gross misconduct. He should have known better having been in the media industry for 18 years and receiving continuous training on media regulators’ programming codes, broadcasting regulations and codes of conduct and ethics. 

"Including a very recent training by the Media Council of Kenya in February 2021 which covered: Ethics and Code of Conduct, Fake news and Fact-checking, Interview skills, Conflict Sensitive Journalism, Hate Speech Dilemma in media, On-air presentation skills," the company stated.

The company indicated that Shaffie had contravened its policies and his employment contract which had led to the termination of his services.

In a letter circulated online on Tuesday, March 30, Weru demanded a one month's salary in lieu of notice amounting to Ksh682,500, 12 months’ salary for unfair termination amounting to Ksh8,190,000, and gratuity (one month for every year of service) amounting to Ksh12,285,000.

Homeboyz Radio terminated the contracts of Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru (Dj Mfalme), and Neville Muysa on Sunday, March 28.

The trio had uttered gender insensitive statements on their show on Thursday, March 25, that caused an uproar on social media as well as led the East African Breweries (EABL) to pull out its advertisements at the station.

Homeboyz
Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru (DJ Mfalme) and Neville Muysa ,The lift off presenters, a show aired on Homeboyz radio.
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