Kenyan journalists decry racism, exploitation and underpayment by international media houses

• Working for an international media organisation is a dream come true for many Kenyan journalists . . . is it?
• What many do not know is that apart from the prestige associated with the positions, many are unhappy
• Most local journalists are paid a mere 10% of what their foreign counterparts who work in Kenya earn for similar assignments

For many aspiring journalists across Africa, securing a role with an international media organisation represents the pinnacle of a career built on talent, hard work and dedication to truth-telling.

Yet behind the prestige associated with some of the world’s most respected news brands, a growing number of Kenyan journalists live in squalor.

The glaring divide in pay grades

NGBREAKINGNEWS followed the disturbing case in which fellow scribes have endured years of exploitation, discrimination and unequal treatment that have left them feeling undervalued in their own country.

The concerns raised affect journalists employed as staff members and freelancers by global media organisations, including BBC Africa, CNN, Reuters, Bloomberg News, AFP, Al Jazeera, Voice of America and Associated Press.

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Kenyan journalists allegedly earn significantly less than foreign colleagues performing comparable duties within the same organisations.

Details indicate that some receive approximately USD 1,500 (KSh 195,000) per month while foreign counterparts earn up to USD 10,000 (KSh 1.2 million) for similar assignments.

Freelance journalists also raised concerns over payment disparities, alleging they are paid as little as USD 150 (KSh 19,500) per story while foreign contributors receive several times more for comparable work.

Hunters hunted?

Several journalists who have worked with international media organisations describe an industry culture in which local professionals undertake much of the reporting, sourcing and logistical work on the ground while occupying positions with limited decision-making authority.

Some claim that raising concerns about pay disparities or workplace treatment often comes at a professional cost.

“We are good enough to produce the stories, but not good enough to be treated equally,” one of the complainants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented.

For many, however, the issue extends far beyond remuneration as those who challenge these practices risk victimisation, blacklisting and exclusion from future assignments.

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Freelancers are said to be particularly vulnerable because their livelihoods often depend on maintaining relationships with bureau chiefs and commissioning editors. As a result, many choose silence over confrontation.

Spotlight on ARD German TV and Radio

Among the organisations facing scrutiny is ARD German TV and Radio, which has reportedly become the subject of a legal dispute involving the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ).

The dispute centres on allegations that local employees were denied the right to join a Kenyan trade union.

“Would you believe the organisation insisted that we should instead be represented through a union based in Germany?” a disgruntled cameraperson told NGBREAKINGNEWS.

The disagreement reportedly emerged amid broader complaints concerning working conditions, recruitment practices, workplace bullying and allegations of racial discrimination.

Sources close to the matter allege that repeated complaints by local staff have failed to produce meaningful internal reforms.

Questions over work permits and foreign recruitment

Perhaps the most contentious issue raised by journalists concerns the employment of foreign nationals in roles that local professionals believe could be filled by qualified Kenyans.

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Kenya hosts one of Africa’s largest communities of foreign correspondents, making Nairobi a major hub for international news coverage across the continent.

However, some organisations have increasingly relied on foreign employees even with existing capacity, limiting opportunities for local journalists.

Certain organisations employ more foreign nationals than Kenyan staff, despite operating primarily within Kenya and drawing extensively on local expertise and knowledge.

“They obtain permits by indicating that foreign personnel are being deployed to provide skills development and training to Kenyan employees. However, no capacity-building or skills transfer programmes are implemented,” a producer at one of the international radio stations explained.

How staffing is done

Another journalist working with a foreign media house indicated that the Nairobi bureau does not have a human resource professional or department responsible for recruitment, employee relations or disciplinary processes.

Instead, hiring decisions and other employment matters are determined by the bureau chief, a foreign journalist with limited familiarity with Kenya’s labour and employment framework.

“The absence of professional HR oversight has resulted in unfair human resource practices and a work environment that is toxic and dehumanizing,” she complained.

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The current and previous bureau chiefs have, allegedly, exercised undue influence over staffing decisions with complete disregard to merit and compliance with Kenyan labour laws.

KUJ response on contentious issue

The Kenya Union of Journalists has on several occasions raised objections with the ministry of Immigration and ICT.

It is worth noting that these permits are renewed every two years without any local advertisement or verification by the relevant government agencies that the grounds for their approval still exist.

“The Ministry of ICT should not be issuing “No Objection” letters to support permit applications for junior positions like video editors, sound technicians, and cameramen,” KUJ Secretary General, Erick Oduor explained.

It, therefore, beats logic why such roles are not first offered to qualified Kenyan candidates, particularly when the senior editorial and management positions within the bureau are already occupied by foreign nationals.

Kenyan government under pressure

The matter has since attracted the attention of labour rights advocates who argue that Kenyan employment laws should apply equally to all organisations operating within the country, regardless of their country of origin.

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“This practice raises important questions about compliance with immigration regulations designed to prioritise employment opportunities for qualified Kenyan citizens where local expertise exists,” an expert on matters of Labour explained.

The concerns were escalated to multiple government agencies, including the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, labour authorities and immigration officials.

However, journalists and union representatives say little tangible progress has been made.

Parliament discussed mistreatment of journalists

The issue recently reached the floor of Parliament after a Member of Parliament formally sought a statement from the Departmental Committee on Labour on the matter.

He described it as systematic labour exploitation, racial discrimination and violations of the constitutional rights of Kenyan journalists working for international media houses operating in Kenya.

The discussion sought answers on three key issues: investigations into alleged racial discrimination and labour violations; enforcement of constitutional provisions on equal pay for equal work; and protection for journalists who report unfair treatment.

For affected journalists, the intervention offers a rare opportunity to bring long-standing grievances into the public spotlight.

A test case for labour rights

The controversy has sparked wider debate about whether international organisations operating in Kenya are being held to the same labour standards expected of local employers.

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Media rights advocates argue that international news organisations often position themselves as defenders of justice, accountability and human rights around the world.

As scrutiny intensifies, many journalists say they are simply seeking the same principles within their own workplaces.

The unfolding debate is likely to test not only Kenya’s labour laws but also the commitment of global media institutions to the values they regularly champion in their reporting.

For now, many Kenyan journalists are watching closely, hoping the attention generated by Parliament’s intervention will finally lead to accountability and meaningful reforms within an industry that prides itself on exposing injustice wherever it occurs.

Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS