Radio Africa Group-owned Homeboyz Radio has terminated the employment of three presenters, Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru alias DJ Joe Mfalme and Neville Muysa for their controversial remarks in a rape victim-shaming scandal.
The three made remarks on Thursday, March 25, during their breakfast show dubbed the ‘Lift Off’ which were deemed to endorse and promote gender violence.
Somoina Kimojobo, General Manager Homeboyz Radio, said it was the ‘right thing to do’ following a comprehensive assessment of their alleged comments that appeared to be vouching for gender-based abuse.
“The comments of said erstwhile employees were neither authorised, approved nor cleared with the company nor was the subject discussed and or authorised by the company’s senior leadership,” said Kimojobo.
“We have determined that their conduct constitutes gross misconduct and an egregious breach of the company’s editorial policies. The company and its subsidiaries do not condone gender-based violence or any form of physical, verbal and optional abuse nor does it subscribe to the view shared by the three employees.”
Eunice Wangari Story
The three claimed that a lady identified as Eunice Wangari called for her own tribulations after her boyfriend physically abused her following a disagreement. Eunice accused her boyfriend of pushing her from the 12th floor of a storey building after she turned down his sexual advances.
Commenting on the matter, Shaffie and the colleagues shifted blame to Eunice, even accusing her of being “too loose” and “too available”.
The insinuation by the trio’s remarks, as interpreted by many, was that the girl’s perceived ‘gullibility’ invited her predicament. This rubbed many Kenyans the wrong way.
Adverts Withdrawn
The East African Breweries Limited (EABL) made a public announcement it had discontinued its advertisements on Homeboyz Radio’s shows hosted by the trio.
“EABL strives to promote inclusion and diversity and we discourage gender insensitive statements including the negative portrayal of women in all our marketing campaigns. The context in which content on the Wednesday programme was relayed goes against the core tenets of this agenda,” said EABL in an official statement.
Ezekiel Mutua, the KFCB CEO said, “The Homeboyz Radio debacle should be a wake-up call to all media houses to recruit qualified journalists. The withdrawal of advertising by EABL and the suspension of the culprits for the unfortunate slur on woman and promotion of GBV is a painful lesson for all, but befitting!”
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), the body that regulated Media frequecies, is expected to issue a statement on the matter on Sunday, March 28 2021.
