More Job Cuts Loom At Mediamax As Cash Crunch Bites

Several heads are set to roll at Mediamax, the third largest media house in Kenya.

According to a letter by acting CEO Ken Ngaruiya to the county labour office seen by Business Times, the media house intends to declare several staffers redundant, following dwindling fortunes.

“In view of the above, the services of some of its employees will be rendered superfluous thereby necessitating the termination of their employment on account of redundancy. In accordance with the provisions of Section 40 of the Employment Act, Mediamax Network Limited hereby gives one (1) month’s notice of the intended redundancies,” said Ngaruiya.

This comes days after the media house offset at least 20 staffers who above the age of 60. Among the senior members of the fourth estate who were sent packing include People Daily Quality and Training Editor Chris Odwesso and the paper’s chief photographic editor Hudson Wainaina. Also leaving is pre-press operations coordinator Peter Kibaba.

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Even as the management grapples with dwindling fortunes, other measures taken to cut costs include withdrawal of afternoon tea as well as airtime tokens. Senior editors will no longer have access to the Star, Standard, Daily Nation and Business Daily newspapers.

There are reports that some TV anchors recently poached from rival stations on stellar pay have had to renegotiate term and take lower salaries.

The media hous, co=owned by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto runs K24 Tv, People Daily newspaper and vernacular stations namely: Kameme TV, Kameme FM, Emoo Fm, Mayian FM, Meru FM and Msenangu FM.

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