Employees at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) raised alarm over two-month salary arrears that have destabilised the workforce.
Staffers at the government broadcaster lamented their employer’s inability to pay their dues ahead of the Christmas holiday, faulting them for not holding up to their end of the bargain.
Their frustrations stemmed from the management’s pledge to settle the two-month payments by Friday, December 27, in an internal memo but it now appeared they were going to rescind that decision. No salaries had been received as of December 31.
“I hope this memo finds you well. I want to sincerely apologise for the delays in processing payments before the Christmas Holiday. We understand how important timely payments are, especially during this season,” the memo read in part.
KBC main office entrance located along Harry Thuku Road, off University Way in the Nairobi city centre.
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“I am pleased to inform you that payments will start checking into your accounts tomorrow and will be completed by the 27th of December 2024, when we will have cleared last month’s outstanding dues,” it added.
In the memo signed by Managing Director Agnes Nguna, KBC blamed the hold-up on a delay in exchequer funding and lower debt collection pledging to solve the issue as quickly as possible.
“These delays have been occasioned by issues related to exchequer funding as well as a lower-than-expected collection of our debts this month. We are working around the clock to address these challenges and ensure that payments are processed in the shortest time possible,” the national broadcaster stated.
KBC’s management in the memo had assured the employees that they would migrate to a new payment system to avoid future problems with payment.
“To enhance our operations and prevent similar delays in the future, we are also exploring ways to centralize all our payroll processes,” the company affirmed.
The national broadcaster has endured a tough time over the past years with the government urged to bring sweeping reforms to the once prestigious media house.
Recently, long-serving Managing Director Waithaka Waihenya left the company after the end of his term. Waihenya had served at the helm of KBC for seven years.
At the national broadcaster, Waihenya presided over massive expansion in which KBC introduced seven new vernacular FM stations and two TV channels Y254 and Heritage TV. He also oversaw the migration from analogue to digital in which KBC under Signet was one of the two signal distributors.
Under Waihenya, KBC also received the prestigious ISO certification but had his tenure marred with numerous challenges.
KBC Managing Director Agnes Kalekye Nguna
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