BY MWANAHABARI REPORTER
KTN NEWS anchor Linda Oguttu and Robin Toskin, the Standard Newspaper sports Deputy Editor have been forced out of Kenya’s oldest private media house.
The duo were fired by the Gideon Moi-owned media house in what could be seen as a major victory for the management.
Linda broke the news of her exit from KTN via a Twitter post, while Toskin was forcefully removed from the company’s WhatsApp group while in Mombasa where he’s attending the ongoing Tong Il Moo Do martial arts championship.
“I have taken a sabbatical leave from the Standard Group Limited to serve in the FKF Secretariat. TUKUTANE KWA FUTA (Let’s meet in the field). And mask up and get vaccinated… HII COVID HAITAKI MCHEZO (Covid-19 is no joke),” Linda twitted on Sunday, December 19, 2021 to her 650,000 followers.
Linda together with Toskin were recently appointed into the caretaker umbrella constituted by Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage Amina Mohamed to oversee Kenyan football after the ‘ouster’ of Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa over alleged corruption.
Linda is the head the Secretariat while retired Justice Aaron Ringera is the chair.
The committee that is tasked with running football for the next six months from November, will conduct all the affairs of FKF in accordance with its constitution, coordinating and ensuring the smooth running of FKF’s operations including team preparations of all local and international sporting events, overseeing elections of FKF in accordance with the Sports Act and the Sports Registrar’s regulations before handing over FKF to the newly elected officials.
Mwanahabari has reliably learnt that the two journalists were forced out by Ochieng Rapuro, the no nonsense Editor-in-Chief who crossed over to Mombasa Road in June 2019, from the Nation Media Group.
Though Linda could have been a victim of circumstances, Toskin’s exit was long overdue.
Sources now indicate that Toskin – was the one who proposed his colleague Linda to CS Amina – leading to her historical appointment. This is by all means legal – and Linda is a brilliant mind.
It has – however – emerged that Standard Group management – specifically Rapuro summoned Linda and TOSKIN soon after their appointment into FKF caretaker committee and asked them to take a 6-months sabbatical – after which they would have to re-apply for their jobs – afresh.
“That’s a polite way of saying, you are fired,” a source told Mwanahabari.co.ke.
Going by her message this morning – it’s seems that Linda has agreed to the call – and chose FKF. It is not clear whether she will be coming back – although sources claim she is in good books and could as well be allowed back into the fold once the six months are over.
On his part, Toskin – who also hosted Sports Chat, on KTN News – has been battling integrity issues that has since resulted into a full investigation by the company’s head of security (Kosgei)
On Sunday, he was unceremoniously plucked from the company’s WhatsApp Group – an onus that fell in the hands of the powerful Standard Group Digital Editor – Carol Kimutai.
Sources have also hinted that Carol who joined Standard from the defunct X-News having previously worked at Tuko and Toskin have not been the best of friends.
It is said that they two tore at each other on numerous occasions over quality of content with Carol getting into the habit of flagging off Toskin’s stories as PR material that should otherwise be paid for.
“Toskin had some differences with the management – some of which dated back to 2017 – relating to some stories that were published in the main Standard paper.
Mwanahabari.co.ke has also learned that there was also the issue of Tokyo Olympics where it is alleged that Toskin was sponsored by the Ministry of Sports to travel with Team Kenya, contrary to company’s policies.
Rapuro is said to have raised questions regarding this matter.