Cash-strapped Standard Group PLC, which owns KTN News and a chain of other media brands, has suffered yet another blow after losing one of its dependable current affairs reporters – Willy Lusige.
Lusige, an award-winning journalist, announced his departure on Friday, November 3, ending a six-year journey at the Mombasa Road-based giant media company.
Taking to his social media platforms, Lusige thanked the colleagues, mentors, colleagues, and friends who stood with him during his stay at SG.
“Great people, it has been six years at Standard Media Group as a reporter at KTN News. Time really flies so fast. After an incredible journey that began in 2017 as a young reporter, it is time to say goodbye,” he wrote.
“From reporting to creating memories, it had been an unforgettable ride,” he added.
In addition, the journalist quoted the Holy Book, Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heave.”
Apart from KTN News, The Standard Group also owns The Standard Newspaper, KTN Home, Radio Maisha, Farmers TV, Burudani TV, Spice FM and Vybez Radio.
Experience before KTN News
Prior to joining SG, Lusige served as a journalist and digital sub editor at Nation Media Group (NMG).
He reported news and edited all content that went through NMG’s social media sites, websites, and online television streaming.
With a degree in Education Arts, Kiswahili, and Geography from the University of Nairobi (UoN), Lusige served as a teacher at Moi Girls between May 2014 and August 2014.
Previously, he taught Kiswahili at Maridadi High for two years from September 2010 to October 2012.
Also, Lusige served in other capacities including being a social media and internet marketing manager at Candy n Candy Records.
The journalist also served as a Kiswahili program host volunteer at Radio Maisha.
During his stint at KTN News, Lusige was based in Kakamega, and was the station’s point man, covering the Western Region. However, following a reshuffle in 2022, he was moved to Nairobi.
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Standard Group still in the red
On Friday, September 1, SG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joe Munene announced the second round of mass layoffs in 2023.
In an internal memo, Munene said the mass firing was a result of a restructuring process and technological changes in the digital environment.
“The company hereby gives a one month notice of the intention to declare redundancy with effect from the date hereof,” read the memo.
Furthermore, the CEO explained that the redundancy was to affect employees from all departments.
Also, he emphasized that the process was to be done in compliance with the Employment Act 2007 and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the union of Employees.
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The first wave of SG’s mass layoff happened in 2020, and it claimed the jobs of tens of journalists.
Several journalists have left SG in recent years for several reasons, compounded by the financial challenges, with the listed company struggling to remain afloat.
Before Lusige’s exit, KTN News had also lost its talent to the competition, which has turned the Moi-owned firm into a hunting ground.
In October, veteran journalist Rita Tinina dumped Standard Group and went back to her former employer NMG, which owns NTV, Daily Nation, Business Daily, Taifa Leo, The East African, and Nation FM.
Other journalists who quit Standard Group because of its woes are Ted Malanda, Clay Muganda, Ben Kitili, Linda Oriaso, Hassan Mwana Ali, Frank Otieno, Brian Obuya, Fridah Mwaka, Lofty Matambo, Paul Nabiswa and Dr Mercy Korir.
