Karen Karimi Knaust has secured a new job after nearly two years of joblessness following her dramatic firing from K24 where she worked as a news anchor.
Karimi Knaust was among journalists who were ungraciously fired from K24 via a text message sometimes in June 2020.
K24’s parent company Mediamax Network Limited fired all its newsroom staff working for the TV station, including news anchors sparing only two people, in an unprecedented cost-cutting measure.
Human resource manager issued K24 employees a redundancy notice via a text message.
“I am contacting you with regards to the redundancy notice issued on 21st of May 2020. The notice period has expired. Unfortunately, your position has been affected by way of redundancy. I would like to invite you to Emory Hotel in Kileleshwa tomorrow, Monday 22nd at 8:55am to discuss what this means to your employment. When you get to the hotel kindly ask for me. We thank you for your indulgence and cooperation in this matter,” the message read.
The entire newsroom including top news anchors, reporters and other staff were sent parking after opposing 50% pay cut the company had imposed on them.
The only two employees who were spared worked in the production department and had agreed to the pay cut terms.
Some of the employees K24 fired included; Karimi Knaust, Sam Njoroge, Rose Gakuo, Fred Indimuli, Eric Njoka, Isabella Kituri, Nancy Onyancha, Caren Kibett, Shon Osimbo, Sara Adams, Joy Kariuki, Joab Mwaura and Tony Khwalanda.
K24 journalists had not been paid for three months prior to the mass layout. The former staff was left in tears after learning that their unpaid salaries and accrued dues would also be delayed for between two and three years once they sign the redundancy documents .
The K24 staff were hoping that the monies would be paid at the point of contract termination, together with the accrued benefits.
The dismissal letter gave Mediamax the upper hand as it indicated that it would pay the staff dues over a period of 28 to 40 months which meant that the earliest the dues would be paid is October 2022 and as late as October 2023.
The lay off came barely a month after Betty Kyallo called it quits from the station during her popular Weekend with Betty show noting that Saturday May 30th 2020 was her last day at K24.
Fast forward to 2022, Karimi Knaust has secured a new job as an anchor on TV47, two years after the ungracious firing from K24.
An excited Knaust took to social media to express her joy on making TV comeback after nearly two years in the cold.
“Feel great. I feel fresh and officially, I am back. To my new home TV47,” Karen Karimi captioned her news promo.
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