Fake Eritrea polygamy story cost’s Digital Editor Nairobi job

Photo: David Ohito

HIGHLIGHTS

-Digital Editor to move to Kisumu immediately

-Standard Group’s image at stake following fake  stories

-Editor to head the non-performing  Kisumu bureau for a month


By  Tonny Ndungu | Tuko

The Standard Media Group has demoted its  Digital Editor who approved two  hoax stories that have tarnished the groups image and overall credibility.

Standard Group Digital Editor, David Ohito has been transferred to Kisumu  to ‘put things in order’, Business today  reports.

The transfer comes  a few days after the Standard group was criticized widely over hoax stories . The two embarrassing stories have been detrimental to Standard Group’s  image. The Tanzanian miniskirt ban and the forced Eritrean polygamy prompted the New Editorial Director, Mr Joseph Odindo to do the needful, which saw Ohito being relegated to a lesser position as bureau chief in Kisumu.

The Tanzanian government  was  particularly irked by the article which appeared on Standard and the backlash prompted President Magufuli to issue a hard hitting press statement refuting the allegations that his office had effected a ban on miniskirts.  The statement required Standard Media to issue an apology to its readers as well as state the new facts as issued by Magufuli’s government.

“The ministry deplores the casual manner in which the standard handled the hearsay report and the reckless, totally unwarranted  attribution of the imaginary ‘ban’ to The Tanzanian Head Of State”  Read the press Statement

The falling house of cards was escalated  by the recent story run by the same media outlet which stated that the Eritrean Government had issued a decree for all Eritrean men to marry two wives or face jail term.

The story has since been debunked with a lot of backlash on the Standard which ran the fake story. The story had such a huge impact and was reproduced by media houses all over Africa.

Men from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa had even ‘volunteered’ to travel to Eritrea to offset the deficiency of men that had been widely reported.

The Eritrean government officials talking to the BBC spoke of their horror and disappointment at the Kenyan media for writing such an absurd story.

“Even a madman in [the Eritrean capital] Asmara would know that this story was not true,” an Eritrean official told the BBC.

The Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel was not impressed either and expressed his disgust at the negative light in which Eritrea had been portrayed.

“the story illustrates [the] vileness of the dark forces of disinformation and proclivity of others to readily embrace the negative narrative on Eritrea”. Wrote the minister

Quite a tidy sum.

The only problem with his new post is the fact that Ohito will have to move to Kisumu as he assumes his new responsibilities.

With the new task at hand for Ohito, it is still not clear what will happen to Frank Otieno who has been heading the Kisumu bureau. He will probably assume  ‘lighter duties’ as the bureau is reworked by the  ‘demoted’ Digital Editor.

Tuko.co.ke  made a call to ascertain the said demotion. An insider revealed that Ohito will be in Kisumu for a month helping raise standards  and collecting reports on why the Kisumu bureau is not performing .

Whether he will resume duties after a month time will tell.

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