A photo collage of ex-AMWIK Board Chairperson Jane Thuo alongside ex-Vice Chairperson, Rachel Ombaka Weeks after this blog exposed massive fraud at the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), the organization was hit by a wave of resignations, as key members of its troubled board sought to flee from the stinking mess they created.
In our previous publication, we highlighted the sickening corruption that went into appointing one Patience Nyange, for the Executive Director position and the appalling actions of the Board, led by Chairperson Jane Thuo who sent Vice Chairperson, Rachel Ombaka, to fish for dirt to disqualify the top candidate, Jackline Lidubwi.
Ms Lidubwi had initially been given an offer letter, but then later, deals were cut, and the same job was given to one Ms. Nyange, who was a gubernatorial candidate for Taita Taveta in the recently concluded polls.
The Board later pathetically tried to justify their mistakes and favouritism in discriminating against one lady, possibly due to her tribe and other factors not related to performance.
The aggrieved victim sought legal redress, demanding that AMWIK issues an unconditional, unquantified, and prominent apology within 24 hours.
That incident led to an uproar among members, forcing chairperson Dr Jane Thuo and three other board members to resign on December 9 during a heated Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Members who spoke said that the wrangles were undermining the association’s core value to support media women’s rights and dignity.
During the meeting, the chairperson acknowledged that the board had infringed upon human resource procedures during the recruitment process and was, therefore, wrong.
Members, therefore, directed that the recruitment be nullified and carried out afresh with both candidates free to reapply.
Things hit fever-pitch when the unfairly appointed Patience Nyange threatened to sue AMWIK if her contract was withdrawn.
This infuriated members, who insisted that the right thing must be done for AMWIK to uphold its reputation as an organization that champions integrity.
With members maintaining that their direction was final, the chairperson Jane Thuo stepped down.
Vice Chairperson, Rachel Ombaka, led the rest of the EGM, but she too resigned via a message on AMWIK’s WhatsApp group, after which Cylia Kathambi and Jane Godia also communicated their resignation from the board. Members have, however, expressed deep concerns that none of the board members who resigned has officially left the office, with some still acting on behalf of AMWIK.
They have called on relevant legal authorities to move in and investigate the appalling state of affairs at the organization.
AMWIK now faces a bleak future with a raging tug of war and the exit of top foreign sponsors who have been financing its operations.