Editor's Review

It has now emerged that Radio Maisha staff has been receiving threats since they staged a boycott. 

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor, has called on Standard Group PLC to pay its journalists, who have not received their salaries for the last seven months.

In a statement to newsrooms on Monday, July 8, Oduor disclosed that Radio Maisha staff has been receiving threats since they went on a boycott on July 4, 2024, demanding their payment. 

According to the KUJ Secretary General, the company has made no attempt to strike a deal with the striking staff since the boycott began. 

"The staff at Standard Group PLC attached to the radio department boycotted work on July 4, 2024, demanding payment of their seven-month salary arrears after attempts to strike a deal on a payment plan fell on deaf ears. They have been on strike since then, but the management of the company has made no efforts to address their grievances, but instead has been issuing threats. 

"We are in solidarity with the staff who are on strike as we mobilize their colleagues in other departments to join them for maximum impact," remarked Oduor. 

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The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor

He added, "No intimidation will stop the staff from demanding what rightfully belongs to them and restoration of order at the country’s oldest media house." 

The strike by the radio department comes four days after the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) issued a 14-day strike notice that the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection received on July 1, 2024, over accumulated salary arrears for seven months and failure to remit Sacco dues.

Standard Media Group radio employees on Thursday, July 4, made good their threat to down tools due to salary arrears. The employees from Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Berur FM, and Vybez Radio had on June 28, threatened to go off air if the management failed to clear the arrears.

With management not heeding their plea, the journalists staged a walkout from their respective workstations and converged at the staff cafeteria.  All radio stations were left playing music with no presenter on air as they demanded the management to pay their dues.