Standard Media Radio Hosts Strike Over Pay Delays

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Standard Media Group radio presenters protested delayed salaries, causing a walkout and disruption of regular programming.
• New CEO Marion Gathoga-Mwangi, starting July 15, is expected to address financial challenges and lead the company’s turnaround.

Radio presenters at Standard Media Group have downed their tools in protest against delayed salaries. 

The presenters, who host some of the most popular shows on stations under the media conglomerate, walked out of their studios on Tuesday, leaving listeners with only music.

Standard Media Group, which owns Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Berur FM, and Vybez Radio, has faced growing frustration among its staff over late payments, with some employees claiming they have not been paid for several months. 

Staff have been vocal about their plight, using organizations such as the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Media Council of Kenya to air their grievances and demand immediate action from the management.

Even on social media channels, many of the stations under the Standard Media Group umbrella did not have updates, which is unusual for presenters who typically engage fans to tune in. 

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This comes after the media house reported a Sh1.26 billion loss for the year ended December 2023. 

The group’s total revenue fell to Sh2.38 billion from Sh2.53 billion in 2022, primarily due to reduced advertising spending by clients in a challenging economic environment. 

Operating costs increased to Sh3.09 billion from Sh2.95 billion the previous year, driven by higher input costs and inflationary pressures, impacting the company’s profitability.

The go-slow and poor performance are among the issues that the new CEO, Marion Gathoga-Mwangi, is expected to address. 

Gathoga-Mwangi, who begins her tenure on July 15, brings a wealth of experience to the role with a 26-year career spanning both local and international arenas. 

She has held pivotal executive roles at The Linde Group PLC companies, such as African Oxygen Pty (AFROX) and BOC Kenya PLC, where she made significant contributions, including enhancing access to medical gases across Africa and managing bulk and onsite manufacturing operations in South Africa.

Before joining The Standard Group, her roles included Healthcare Director, Business Unit Director for Bulk and Onsite Manufacturing in South Africa, and Managing Director of BOC Kenya PLC. 

Gathoga-Mwangi’s experience also extends to Country Director at Cadbury Kenya and East Africa Limited, General Manager at Unga Limited Plc (Seaboard Corporation), and Country Director at Parmalat Botswana Pty in Gaborone, Botswana. She also had a distinguished tenure with Bayer East Africa.

In addition to her executive roles, Gathoga-Mwangi contributes to the corporate world as a Non-Executive Director at BAT Kenya PLC, BOC Kenya PLC, and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). 

She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) Degree in International Business Administration from the United States International University (USIU) Kenya and is a recognized practitioner of Continuous Improvement (Kaizen), a methodology she has effectively utilized in corporate turnarounds.

As the media industry continues to evolve, Gathoga-Mwangi’s leadership is anticipated to play a crucial role in the company’s adaptation and growth, ensuring The Standard Group remains at the forefront of delivering quality journalism and innovative media solutions.