This archive report was first published on 28 September 2021.
MediaMax, a media station owned by the Kenyatta family, has been accused of being a talent killer in Kenya. This claim was made by Jalang'o, a popular morning presenter at Kiss FM, nearly two years after he left MediaMax's Radio Milele and returned to his roots at Kiss FM.
According to Jalang'o, MediaMax is notorious for killing talents, making it difficult for employees to thrive in their careers. He cited the example of his colleague and friend, Betty Kyallo, who resigned from K24 on air due to struggles.
“Those people are talent killers. It’s good when you join but later nobody wants to listen nor pay you. Have you seen how many times they have tried to rebrand?” Jalang'o said, highlighting the company's tendency to rebrand and change its approach.
MediaMax has faced several controversies in the past, including the mass firing of employees through text messages and the institution of a 50% salary reduction. The company has also been accused of taking a pro-government political stance, which has led to the resignation of several high-profile presenters.
On December 6, 2020, former presenter Anne Kiguta quit MediaMax on air, citing a fundamental disagreement on editorial processes and direction. MediaMax currently runs several media outlets, including People Daily Newspaper, TV stations, and radio stations.
