Pay us our money: Former Standard Group journalists protest
By Kevin Cheruiyot
Dozens of former Standard Group employees affected by the company's recent downsizing went to the company's headquarters on Tuesday to protest over unpaid arrears.
They accused the management of failing to pay them despite an initial agreement that they would be paid.
The journalists, who blocked the company's gate along Mombasa Road, complained that the delay in payment had crippled their lives.
Standard Group owns Standard Newspaper, KTN, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Vybz FM and other media outlets.
Armed with placards and whistles, the journalists said it was unfortunate that the company which they served to the best of their ability was taking months to settle their outstanding dues.
“The reason why we are saying they must pay is because they do not honour their own documents that they made. We need our money. We are not here to beg for anything but to ask for our rights,” one of the journalists said.
They accused the company of failing to remit money for statutory deductions including Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Kenya Revenue Authority and NSSF for the past two years.
The scribes also demanded the release of their savings to Network Sacco, which is affiliated to the company and has been crippled for almost two years.
“We saved our hard-earned money, and we need that money today. We are saying that Standard Group must pay...it has no option,” another journalist said.
Last week, Standard Group CEO Marion Gathoga held a meeting with a section of the unpaid ex-employees. She had assured the them that the company was committed to paying their dues.
“Standard Group has been navigating through a difficult financial landscape for a while. Our commitment to settling dues for both former and current employees remains unwavering. However, several challenges have hampered our progress in this regard,” Ms Gathoga said.
