Kenya’s oldest media house has rejected the ‘voluntary retirement’ of one of its longest serving employees. Standard Media Group is said to have declined what it “painfully” offered to its employees in a June breakfast meeting in its ambitious plan to trim excess workforce.
A source says Omulo Okoth’s retirement letter was “gladly rejected.” He is said to be a crucial pillar on the Sports desk, which he heads. Importantly, he is almost retiring, having served the group for close to three decades.
The 54-year-old award-winning journalist seems to have pre-empted his fate on the morning of June 26 in a Facebook post when he stated: “TSG (The Standard Group) breakfast during the much-anticipated staff communication meeting. Might this be the last staff breakfast for many of us who have diligently and steadfastly served the group for over two decades? Keenly awaiting word from the CEO.”
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Nicknamed Lumumba, Mr Isaac Okoth is one of Kenya’s most decorated journalists. He has covered virtually all global sports events. He has interacted with the who-is-who in the sports arena.
“He is perhaps the only Kenyan journalist who can write and edit any genre of sports, from cricket, football, golf, athletics, among others,” said an editor at the rival media company, Nation Media Group.
Actuaries say if the Senior Editor’s wish were granted, he would have parted with close to Ksh10 million plus other hefty perquisites.
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Standard Group is seeking to thin its payroll by 30% to give the retired President Moi’s outfit a new lease of life at a time it is struggling financially. The circulation of Standard Newspaper is declining while Radio Maisha, KTN and PDS are fighting for survival.
Only The Nairobian, its tabloid newspaper, has recorded an upward growth in the last one year. However, the tabloid’s advertising revenues, as is the tradition with such pamphlets in the world, can hardly be felt.
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