This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
On November 15th, investigative journalist Geoffrey Mosoku was unexpectedly sacked from his position at Standard newspaper. The news sent shockwaves through the newsroom, with many colleagues left wondering what had led to his sudden dismissal.
As it turned out, Mosoku's reporting on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's car being impounded for tax evasion was the final straw. The car, a Range Rover, was registered in Raila's late son Fidel's name, not Raila's own name. Fidel died in early 2015.
According to Business Today, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had seized the car as part of a crackdown on 444 vehicles thought to have either not been paid duty or were stolen. Mosoku's report revealed that the car, registration KCS 002D, had been seized by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
However, after a protest from Raila's family, backed by a demand letter from his lawyer, Standard Media's top editorial management and human resources accused Mosoku of not giving the former prime minister the right of reply. The article had gone through the due editorial process, but the writer was eventually sacrificed.
What is puzzling is that the article went through the required editorial process, yet the writer was still sacked. Raila somehow holds sway at Standard, and recently managed to kill a page-one article on the inheritance case between his family and Fidel's widow, Lwam Bekele.
Revenge of the 'Kabarak Mafia' has been exposed, with Mosoku's sacking creating a stage for the power-play between the mainstream side of the newspaper and the so-called Kabarak Mafia. The sacking, a decision of editor-in-chief Ochieng Rapuro and HR, has not amused the Kabarak side, which coalesces around Gideon Moi, who represents the Moi family interests at the media house.
Now, the Kabarak wing is pushing to have Mosoku reinstated, but it remains to be seen who will have the last laugh. At the end of this, relationships at the top echelons will certainly be ruined.
