On Christmas morning 2024, Rashid Idi collapsed at his Ngong home, a blood vessel rupturing in his brain. Hours later, he was pronounced dead at Nairobi West Hospital. He was 45 years old and left behind a family he could no longer support.
Rashid’s death was not sudden, it was the culmination of four months without salary. His father needed cancer treatment.
His daughter couldn’t join campus. Just days before Christmas, he had begged Standard Group’s operations manager, Alex Kiprotich, for a KES 20,000 advance. The request was arrogantly denied.
The late Rashid represents the fourth Standard Group worker to die under similar circumstances. Shadrack Mitty, a TV reporter, succumbed to a heart condition without medical care. Driver Mzee Katana died after diabetes complications following his summary dismissal. KTN correspondent Japheth Makau died in Machakos Level 5 Hospital, his blood sugar spiraling as unpaid salaries stretched on. The company hadn’t paid for workers’ medical insurance.
Standard Group owes employees 11 months of salary arrears. September to December 2024 remain unpaid. Court cases are piling up, yet Kenya’s media has maintained a studious silence, refusing to expose the inhumane treatment of journalists along Mombasa Road.
A Toxic Reign
Following CEO Marion Gathoga-Mwangi’s departure, power consolidated around four individuals: Alex Kiprotich (Gideon Moi’s aide), his girlfriend Sharon Tomeyian, Jacinta Kiraguri, and Rev. Tom Kipyegon. Colleagues accuse this quartet of demolishing the newsroom structure while carting away funds, allegedly, Alex siphons KES 1 million every two weeks to construct a hotel in his home Baringo.
The workplace has become particularly dangerous for women. Multiple sources report that female employees must sleep with Alex Kiprotich to keep their jobs. Those who refuse face demotion or dismissal on flimsy grounds. Jacinta Kiraguri and Heminigilder Mugeni, who should protect junior female workers, instead enable this abuse. Mugeni’s rapid promotions reward her role as “deputy chief enforcer.”
Last month, senior news anchor Ashley Mazuri resigned after alleged demotion for refusing Alex’s advances. Others who fled include Zubeida Koome, Mary Atwoli, and senior print editors Amos Kareithi and Benjamin Imende. Imende was targeted for allegedly associating with Maureen Wanjiru, who had rejected Alex’s harassment. Veteran TV editor Lilian Odera was sidelined and eventually let go, replaced by the inexperienced but compliant Mugeni.
The Collapse
Advertisers have abandoned the company. The state is choking it due to slanted headlines Alex pushed for. The channel lags behind competitors as talent hemorrhages. Journalists who disagree with the quartet find their contracts terminated or not renewed.
Alex Kiprotich now desperately seeks photographs with Gideon Moi to prove his proximity to power, even as his management drives the company toward collapse.
Where Is Gideon Moi?
What moral authority does Gideon Moi have to lecture anyone on good governance and human rights while his aide transforms his esteemed media house into a killer employer?
Four workers are dead. Women are being sexually coerced. Families are destroyed.
@GideonMoiGM When will you pay workers their dues? When will you stop the sexual predation? When will you stop Standard Group from killing its journalists?
