Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), a state-owned television station funded by taxpayers, is facing backlash over claims that it has not paid its correspondents for the past five months.
The shocking revelations have raised questions about the financial management of the institution, which receives budget allocations from the government.
The allegations, brought to light by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, reveal a dire situation for over 30 regional correspondents who have been left to survive on “the mercies of God.” One correspondent’s family has reportedly collapsed under the strain of financial hardships.
In a message shared with Nyakundi, the whistleblower accused senior officials in KBC’s finance department of withholding payments.
According to the claims, funds meant for correspondents’ salaries are being held in fixed deposit accounts to generate interest, benefitting a select few while workers languish in poverty.
“They haven’t paid us for the last five months, yet the company operates on a monthly budget. How are we expected to survive when families are breaking apart?” the source lamented.
These allegations cast a shadow over KBC, raising concerns about how a government-funded institution with annual allocations can fail to meet its obligations to workers.
Critics are questioning whether the funds allocated to the station are being diverted or mismanaged, and why no oversight mechanism has addressed the issue.
KBC, already under pressure to maintain relevance in a competitive media industry, is now facing public scrutiny.
Calls for investigations into the broadcaster’s financial practices are growing louder, with many demanding accountability from both KBC management and the government.
Attempts to contact KBC management for comment have been unsuccessful.
As the crisis deepens, the broadcaster’s correspondents and their families continue to bear the brunt of what many see as avoidable negligence.
