A distressing incident unfolded at Standard Media Group (SG) on August 16 when an employee, Zanji Mukenya, threatened to end his life by jumping off the rooftop of the company’s offices due to unpaid salaries.
The incident, captured on video, shows Mukenya pacing anxiously on the third-floor ledge, visibly distraught and contemplating the unthinkable as his colleagues watched in shock, unable to intervene.
Mukenya, who works at SG, later took to social media to explain the desperate act, revealing that he was driven to the edge by months of unpaid wages. In his post, he expressed the immense frustration he and many of his colleagues have been enduring, as the media house has failed to pay salaries on time for an extended period.
“Happened a few hours ago. I’m okay now. For context, I was fighting for my pay. Most of the Standard Media workers are going through this. This was me on a 3rd-floor ledge ready to die or get my bag,” Mukenya wrote, giving a glimpse into the dire situation facing SG employees.
The video of the incident quickly went viral, drawing attention to the growing crisis within one of Kenya’s largest media houses. Reports indicate that some employees have gone without pay for up to seven months, leading to widespread financial hardship and severe emotional distress.
The situation has reportedly pushed many staff members to the brink, with depression becoming a common issue among those affected.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured that they are taking steps to provide support.
“We have reached out via our partners for psychosocial support. We shall update,” KUJ stated, highlighting the need for immediate intervention.
The incident at SG has sparked a broader conversation about the financial instability within the media industry in Kenya. The prolonged salary delays and lack of communication from the management have left many emp
