The Standard Group has once again lost one of its dependable journalists, as the giant media house struggles to remain afloat. This is after KTN News anchor and reporter Beldeen Waliaula quit and joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The Kenya Times is aware that Beldeen, a seasoned health reporter began her new role, as a multimedia journalist at the London headquartered, BBC on March 21.
Further, she expressed her gratitude towards friends and colleagues who have held her hand throughout her career, adding that she enjoyed her time at the Mombasa Road-based media company.
Beldeen has served as a news anchor and reporter at the station for over four years.
“It has been an amazing time at Standard Group. To all who held my hand, thank you. It’s my time to say goodbye for now,” she said.
Also Read: Ex-KTN Anchor Joins TRT World a Month After Standard Group Exit
Beldeen’s Career at KTN
About two weeks prior to her new role at the BBC, she put up a post online inviting opportunities for collaboration and work and highlighting the work she had done over the years.
Also, the BBC journalist detailed that she was passionate about telling compelling stories and narratives especially those in topics around health and science, human interest, women’s and children’s issues and climate.
“Over the years, I’ve honed my storytelling skills and collaborated with various government and non-governmental organizations to amplify their projects and initiatives and highlighting their positive impacts across different media platforms.
“Therefore, if you need a media consultant, a media liaison person for your event, a moderator for your webinar or conference, digital activation for your campaign, voice overs, documentation of your programs and media coverage, I am here to collaborate and explore opportunities to work together,” she stated.
During her time at KTN, she anchored ‘Darubini Ya Afrika’ program which aired every Sunday, wrote stories for the Standard Digital and the Standard Newspaper, as well as participated in the production of “My Health Magazine,” a weekly pullout on the Standard Newspaper.
She was also part of the health desk at SG before it was dismantled, working alongside Dr. Mercy Korir who joined AAR, Saada Hassan and Gloria Milimu.
Also Read: KTN Journalist Who Blasted Standard Group Managers Quits
Awards During her Career
In March 2023, Beldeen was among journalists who were feted in the Merck Foundation Media Awards. She was awarded for her ‘Being a deaf mum in Kenya is hell!’ story which highlighted the struggles of deaf mothers while accessing health care.
Additionally, the story detailed the mothers’ parenting journey featuring a deaf woman who opened up about her pregnancy and motherhood journey.
“I decided to do the story of deaf mothers after reports of most of them dying in maternity wards due to lack of attention as they can’t communicate. I am hoping to impact the society as the story has a solution at the end,” she said then.
Also, the journalist was among other media practitioners who covered the 2023 Azimio countrywide protests. During the assignment, she was a victim of the violence targeted at journalists forcing her and her colleagues to don protective gear including masks.
Standard Group Woes
Her exit adds to the list of other journalists who have quit the Standard Media Group as its woes continue to deepen. Some of the latest talents to quit SG include Brenda Zceda Radido, Trix Ingado, Maina Mwangi.
Employees at the station have lamented over delayed salaries, many of them exiting the media house. However, the management has insisted that ongoing restructuring will pay off and eventually calm the storm.
In a statement in November 2023, Standard Group attributed the financial woes to the challenges in the business environment and unpaid revenue by the government for its past advertisements.
Beldeen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Daystar University and is a proud alumna of Moi Girls Vokoli, domiciled in Vihiga County – Western Kenya.
Prior to joining the Standard Group, she worked at Opera as a content editor, Futbol Mas as a communication assistant and Milele FM as a social media intern.
