Nazizi Hirji has called it quits at Vybez radio as the station’s parent company Standard Group Media faces an acute financial crisis.
Nazizi has been hosting #CeasenSekkle, an evening Reggae show at the Standard Group-owned station for the last three years.
She announced her decision to quit through a post on social media.
“Sadly my journey at Vybez Radio has come to an end. Tune in tonight for the very last show with the HEADMASTER.
The last 3 years have been such a blessing to I, I’m thankful we had the chance to show the world that a reggae show can be more than just silly jokes. To the vybez nation thanks for Reasoning with us, thanks for tuning in and supporting CEASE N SEKKLE from day 1. I will truly miss you all.
Positive vibes will keep going, and the journey Continues. To my bredrin @muzikalsheriff thanks for all the memories you’re the best Co-host I’ll miss your jokes. Until we link again family! MAN A LION NO CYAT !” Nazizi wrote on Instagram on January 31, 2023.
Nazizi’s exit comes as Standard Group employees raised complaints over delayed salaries.
Standard Group, which owns KTN News, KTN Home, Radio Maisha, Vybez Radio, Standard Newspaper, Nairobian weekly paper among others, is facing a financial crisis.
Sources from within the media house intimate that employees have not been paid salaries for the past three months.
The salary delay has forced sub-editors and editorial production editors to work from home in a bid to save themselves from daily grind of transport costs.
Some junior staff are being forced to spend nights at their Mombasa Road based offices.
“Some of our colleagues are having it rough, especially the young journalists who do not have alternative means of survival. I have seen people stay at the offices overnight, not once not twice,” a senior journalist speaking on condition of anonymity said.
The journalist further said that Standard Group even introduced free lunch but employees have complained that it’s not really free lunch as it is eventually deducted from their pay.
“We tried discussing this issue with the management but it remained silent over the plight of journalists especially those who are non-KUJ (Kenya Union of Journalists) members. It is sad that a company working in communication sector is itself unable to communicate to its own staff,” added the source
The struggles have led numerous journalists to resign from the media house and its entities.
