Monday 6 September 2010

Director of Kenyan state radio/TV sacked

Debt-ridden Kenyan state radio/TV (KBC) sacked its director today over a scandal relating to the June World Cup. No one really expected David Waweru, who was suspended several weeks ago, to go back to work at the station, anyway.
Waweru

An insider told this blog that KBC board said Waweru and the corporation's secretary Hezekiel Oira were being sacked with immediate effect. 

Both Waweru and Oira were suspended in June over a scandal involving the contract to broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2010 matches live from South Africa.
The KBC board said the two were sacked so that forensic audit of the controversial contract is done.

A few days ago, The Standard newspaper of Kenya published details of what it said were irregularities on how KBC handled the issue of rights to screen World Cup matches.
The story said KBC single-sourced Radio Africa Limited as a partner to screen the tournament (which was wrong), besides several other issues of impropriety.

The board did not name a new director, meaning that top editor Waithaka Waihenya will continue acting as managing director.

By suspending the two officials, KBC is seeking to deflect attention of FIFA which may still raise issues about how KBC, given exclusive rights to air World Cup matches, still went ahead to bring in other parties.


Waweru was appointed as the managing director in 2006 and took over from Waruru Wachira who is now the director at Royal Media Services (Citizen).

His contract -  Waweru's - was extended in August last year for another three year term.

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