The Secretary General of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Benson Okwaro, has voiced his support for the government’s decision to advertise with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Okwaro notes this initiative as a step towards empowering the organisation to become financially self-reliant and ensure full payment of its employees.
Speaking at the Pride Inn Flamingo, Mombasa, Okwaro said that this endorsement underscores the importance of governmental collaboration in strengthening the financial stability of the public broadcasting entity, while also addressing concerns regarding employee remuneration.
“This initiative has raised many concerns from the other media houses as they are making complaints that this will bring some discrimination, but as representative of the Communication Union of workers, I think that is a right decision the government has made,” Okwaro said.
In his statement, he reiterated the union’s backing of the decision, emphasizing their shared goal of facilitating KBC’s financial autonomy, expansion, and ensuring prompt and complete payment of its workforce.
He noted that it is only fair for KBC to be supported by the Government as it owns it and that the other media should not feel discriminated against because it was not announced that the Government would not do business with them but to give the Broadcasting Corporation time to get on its feet.
“I also want to take this opportunity to plead with the management of KBC through the MD that he has a job to do, to grab this opportunity and exploit all the potential the Corporation has”, he added.
By Fatma Said
