This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 15th, 2019, the Daily Nation published a story that would spark outrage among readers. The article, titled 'Ferry victim's husband gets speedy car payout', highlighted the story of John Wambua, who received a cheque from an insurance company just three days after his car was recovered from the Indian Ocean seabed.
However, many readers felt that the article was insensitive and distasteful, particularly given the tragic circumstances of Mr. Wambua's loss. Moses Ndegwa, a Nairobi accountant, was among those who expressed his outrage, describing the article as 'insensitive and shallow'.
Mr. Ndegwa argued that the article lacked humanity, fairness, and impartiality, and that it was deplorable to create such an insensitive clickbait for profits. He requested that the article be pulled down and an apology issued to Mr. Wambua for causing him unnecessary ridicule and public shame.
However, the Nation's editorial policy only requires that enquiries be carried out and approaches made with sympathy, empathy, and discretion. The Nation had to tell the story, as Mr. Wambua was the man of the moment, and his family tragedy had captured the imagination and sympathy of the whole nation.
While the Nation was not at fault for telling the story, some readers felt that the article could have been better worded. The opening paragraph stated that 'it has emerged' that Mr. Wambua was busy working to secure the insurance payouts for his car, while his wife and child were still in the car lying on the ocean floor. However, the second paragraph contradicted this claim, stating that Mr. Wambua contacted his agent to follow up on his comprehensive insurance.
