This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
January 5, 2022, marked a significant departure for KTN News as Sirajuraman Abdullahi, a key reporter, left the company amidst concerns about the ongoing bloodletting affecting business.
According to sources, Siraj has stagnated for a long time and felt his desk was not receiving the necessary support, a sentiment echoed by his colleagues.
His departure comes as no surprise, given the recent string of high-profile exits from the station, including Linda Ogutu, Ben Kitili, Brian Obuya, and Hussein Mohamed.
These departures have been attributed to the poor ratings at the station, which is struggling in the market.
Moreover, the despotic editor-in-chief, Ochieng Rapuro, has been at the center of controversy since his arrival, with several key reporters facing the brunt of his toxic tongue and rogue management style.
Among those affected are Zubeida Kananu, Geff Kirui, and Dr. Mercy Korir, who have been subjected to show-cause letters and verbal reprimands.
For instance, Geff Kirui received a show-cause letter from Rapuro, accusing him of working for DP William Ruto and relying on footage from Emmanuel Talam, the DP's communication director.
Rapuro's management style has also been criticized for being dictatorial, with reports of him banning KTN and the Standard newspaper from covering crime stories provided by the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Furthermore, staff are now questioning the company's commitment to their well-being, with many going unpaid for months, including private security firm 911, linked to Joshua Kulei, which has not been paid over Sh9 million.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, staff are left wondering if Gideon Moi and Kulei have given up on the company and are willing to let it die.
