Renowned education reporter and Citizen TV Journalist Makori Ongechi has quit the giant media house following months of misunderstandings and frustrations from senior editors.
According to sources intimate to the award-winning reporter, Makori is rumored to be in a scuffle with some of Citizen TV’s staff members and reporters who took over the editorial direction some years back.
Renowned education reporter and Citizen TV Journalist Makori Ongechi has quit the giant media house following months of misunderstandings and frustrations from senior editors.
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According to sources intimate to the award-winning reporter, Makori is rumored to be in a scuffle with some of Citizen TV’s staff members and reporters who took over the editorial direction some years back.
“I have had enough of frustrations from the new leadership. When I joined the company, I was in good terms with the then leaders. However, due to the misunderstandings I have had with the new crop of leadership, I have decided to leave Citizen TV,” Ongechi said.
Ongechi added that he faced more challenges while at the station due to his faith and the church that he attended.
“I am a Seventh Adventist Day(SDA) member and I had trouble getting off days to worship during the Sabbath. This affected me because as an SDA member I am supposed to observe the Sabbath, "the reporter said.
Ongechi told Kenyans.co.ke that he had received job offers from Kenyan media houses and that he would settle on one in the coming weeks.
“I have received offers from the Ministry of Education and other local media houses but I will settle on the company I want to join in the coming two weeks. I am a hardworking person and I am sure I will find a new home soon,” Ongechi said.
Makori’s influence as an education reporter cuts across the media fraternity. He has won many awards including the BBG Gold Medal Award and VOA’s Superior Accomplishment Award.
Ongechi’s resignation comes months after an anonymous letter by a Citizen employee accusing Royal Media Services of discrimination and power fights went viral.
Ongechi’s resignation has prompted different reactions from Kenyans including former K24 journalist Eric Njoka who also stated that he had undergone a similar experience.
“I was once terminated by editors who did not believe in talent,” Njoka tweeted.
Ex-Citizen TV Reporter Makori Ongechi Was Fired For Extortion - Insider Reveals Unknown Details
For the better of March 12 and March 13, Kenyan airwaves and social media has been filled with the news of reporter Joshua Makori Ongechi's termination from Citizen TV.
Reports of his firing caused a storm on social media, with KOT pointing an accusing finger at the media house's senior staff, alleging foul play.
A cross-examination of views by netizens alleged that he had been terminated because of his religious beliefs, something Bounce Nation Kenya has established to be false.
An insider adept with the matters informed our news desk that Ongechi had been terminated for extorting news sources. He allegedly sought payments from individuals as to or not run their stories.
Bounce Nation Kenya got hold of the journalist's termination letter, which revealed that he had been fired after a series of investigations into his previous work.
According to the letter, he was served a notice by management on February 8, 2021, followed by a disciplinary hearing on February 16, and March 9.
Apparently, Ongechi had compiled a video for the end of 2020 airing, in which he alleged that West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo had an affair with a minor.
The video was widely circulated online and the journalist had attempted to use it in extorting the governor.
Investigations conducted by the media house established that the story was fake, hence the summons.
In another incident, Ongechi is accused of allegedly acquiring a video of SFS Integrated Primary School in Katani, Machakos County, which he used to extort the school.
The video alleged that the institution was feeding students expired food.
Citizen TV got in contact with police officers from the are who revealed that the video had been used by other individuals to extort money from the institution.'
Pursuant to the findings in both cases, the highly placed source, stated that the station had no choice but to fire the reporter.
"In these two hearing meetings, you admitted that you prepared the video in issue and that you went to the school as alleged. The disciplinary committee conducted its own investigations, took consideration of your submissions at the hearings and your admission that in retrospect what you did was wrong," the letter reads in part.
Citizen TV pledged to pay his salary up to the date of termination.
The source dispels the alleged rumors doing rounds online, and the unwarranted attack directed at the media house's senior management.
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