Radio Africa Group has stated it will sue renowned radio personality Shaffie Weru for breach of contract and negligence.
The radio veteran was terminated by the media house following sentiments he made regarding a woman who was thrown off the 12th floor of a building for rejecting a man's sexual advances.
Radio Africa and its subsidiary Homeboyz Radio 2017 Limited will counter Shaffie's suit with Ksh150 million demands for the loss of businesses and damage of reputation to the 15-year-old and 20-year-old brands respectively.
The move by the media house comes after Shaffie sued them for Ksh21,157,500 citing unfair and unlawful termination of his contract.
Read More
File image of media personality Shaffie Weru. |Photo| Courtesy|
In a letter that was widely circulated on social media on Tuesday, March 30, through his lawyers MMA Advocates, Shaffie demanded one month’s salary in lieu of notice amounting to Ksh682,500. He further demanded 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.
radio Africa maintained that Shaffie subverted his employment contract as well as company policies which led to his termination.
"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," Radio Africa stated.
The media house stated that it is willing to defend itself against any attack launched by Shaffie.
Radio Africa took a major revenue hit on March 27, when East African Breweries Limited (EABL) withdrew all advertisements from programmes with the three presenters.
The brewer stated that the sentiments by the presenters had contravened its agenda and principles in relation to inclusivity and diversity.
Radio Africa had issued a statement stating that the media house does not cotton to gender-based violence, sexual assault, victim-shaming, emotional and verbal abuse.
