Former Standard Group journalist Kizito Namulanda, who served the media house for 15 years, has opened up about the painful ordeal of losing his job while undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
Namulanda’s health struggles began in February 2022 when a doctor noticed his persistent hoarseness and advised him to seek specialist attention.
Tests later confirmed he had throat cancer a diagnosis he described as devastating, especially with a young son at home.
Online research only intensified his fears as he came across grim statistics for late-stage throat cancer.
Further medical examinations revealed the seriousness of his condition, prompting him to seek treatment in India, where doctors recommended a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The treatment took a toll on his body, causing his weight to drop from 74kg to 40kg as radiotherapy made swallowing extremely difficult.
Upon returning to Kenya, Namulanda went into isolation due to his weakened immune system, especially as Covid-19 cases were rising. Doctors warned that even a mild infection could be dangerous.
“Before I travelled back, the government had issued Covid-19 spike alerts, so we had to be careful. The doctors had warned that my immune system was still very weak,” he shared.
Months later, he returned to India for routine follow-up treatment. Surgeons successfully removed part of his voice box during a lengthy operation.
“Before anaesthesia, I offered silent prayers and surrendered everything to God. When I woke up, it felt like a movie scene: I was in the ICU, strapped and immobile,” he recalled.
His wife, who accompanied him, stood by anxiously as doctors confirmed the operation had been successful.
However, just as he began the path to recovery, Namulanda received shocking news. On the day of his three-month post-surgery review, a colleague informed him of a dismissal notice issued by the Standard Group.
Upon returning to Kenya, Namulanda attempted to appeal the decision, hoping the company would reconsider given his medical condition.
“A colleague told me he had received a termination notice and called to thank me for giving him a chance to work at KTN. I was in shock, as I wasn’t aware of any retrenchment plans,” he said.
Despite his plea, Namulanda claims the company insisted on his termination and offered severance payments in ten monthly instalments.
He says he was told to sign the termination letter or risk losing any payment. With limited options, he signed.
Fourteen months later, he says he is still waiting for the full settlement of his severance package.
“I have written several emails explaining how urgently I need this money to pull me out of my financial struggles, but I have not had any breakthrough. I remain hopeful as I pray about the matter,” he added.
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