A recent informal meeting between the Moi family and three powerful yet ever quiet editors at the Standard Group might have sealed the fate of the firm’s chief executive officer Sam Shollei.
It is understood that the trio, one of whom is serving a three-month notice before his departure from the Group, told the Moi Family that Mr Shollei was responsible for the dwindling fortunes at the Standard Group.
Mr Shollei, who succeeded Paul Melly in 2012, is said to be the blue-eyed boy of Mr Joshua Kulei, one of the minority shareholders but with a big say in the affairs of the company. Mr Kulei was an insider of the Moi administration.
Sources say the Kabarak meeting decided unanimously that a Mr Shollei’s successor be identified “immediately”. Importantly, the meeting decided that the often-ignored yet hardworking Kipkoech Tanui be given the full responsibility of running the editorial department. Since the arrival of Mr Shollei from Nation Media Group, Mr Tanui, a close ally of Gideon Moi, has been a low-profile player in Standard editorial affairs.
In fact, at some point, he was demoted from the daily paper to the weekly Counties newspaper, which was later k****d. He later made a comeback to the daily, making a strong and compatible combination with then editorial director Chaacha Mwita that saw Standard newspaper circulation rise. This, however, did not last as Mr Mwita was later sacked for allegedly “inciting editorial employees against the CEO”.
Mr Tanui appears to be regaining his influence in the Group. Most of his key allies have been retained in the ongoing purge such as Andrew Kipkemboi, Robin Toskin and Nicholas Asego. Critics say if Mr Tanui were to wield his new powers “properly”, Enock Wambua, who has been silently campaigning to succeed Mwita and Machua Koinange may not survive.
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