KUJ wants State to clear media houses’ adverts pending bills
By Print Reporter, December 4, 2023The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) now wants the government to pay pending bills owed to media houses without further delay to avert a looming crisis in the media industry over non-payment of salaries to the journalists some of whom have gone without pay for up to 10 months.
Terming the situation dire, KUJ said delay and failure to pay salaries by some companies had reached a crisis level and a threat to media freedom and human rights.
“Media owners are not able to pay their employees as a result of varying reasons. One of the reasons is the payment of advertisements money that the media houses are supposed to be paid by the government. For us to resolve the crisis that we are having in the media, we are calling on the government, both national and county governments to release the funds that are owed to the media houses, so that they can meet their financial obligations. We are calling upon media houses that upon receiving the money from the government and other advertisers, let them consider their staff welfare as their priority,” KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor said in a statement.
Distress calls
According to Oduor, even as the media continues to operate in the difficult business environment, payment of salaries was not open for discussions.
“Managers are not concerned with the welfare of their employees, yet they expect them to play watchdog role for society,” he said.
Explaining how they have been receiving distress calls from three media houses, KUJ singled out The Standard Group PLC, Mediamax Network Ltd and Radio Africa Group whose staff, he said, are enduring untold suffering since the companies have not paid their staff and correspondents for about 10 months in the wake of difficult economic times and high cost of living.
The journalists’ union faulted the government for using advertising as a blackmail tool to cripple the media adding that it should clear the pending bills to enable media houses to meet their financial obligations.
KUJ also wants Parliament to pass relevant legislation that will provide a framework for the remuneration of journalists as well as the establishment of a Media Development Fund to support media development work in Kenya.
The union said the government should recommend measures that should act as a checklist before any media company can be allowed to access the government’s advertisements.
This includes full compliance with the Employment Act by all media houses as well as providing proof of payment of salaries before accessing government advertising.