Ex-KBC Journalist Goes After AMWIK
She was shortlisted for the position and received a phone call and follow-up email from...
Marvin Chege 
The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) has been put on the spot regarding its Executive Director appointment, two weeks after it picked former Taita Taveta gubernatorial candidate, Patience Nyange.
Jackline Lidubwi, a multi-award-winning communications professional whose stellar career in journalism, media training, and management across public and non-governmental sectors spans over twenty (20) years, has demanded that AMWIK issue an unconditional, unquantified, and prominent apology within 24 hours.
In a demand letter seen by Viral Tea, Lidubwi, through her lawyers WKA Advocates, claimed that she applied for the position on Friday, September 16 after it was advertised across its online platforms following the exit of Judie Kaberia, who stepped down from the role on Monday, September 5.
Five days later, she was shortlisted for the position and received a phone call and follow-up email from AMWIK's authorized representative and chair, who had invited her for an interview.
An image of communications professional Jackline Lidubwi. /TWITTER
On September 23, 2022, the chair informed Lidubwi that she had been listed as a finalist for its Executive Director position.
"Subsequently, you invited our Client for a second interview on October 1, 2022. During the second (2nd) interview that was recorded on your Zoom platform, our Client and yourselves agreed on the sine qua nons such as the salary, and the start date which was to be November 1, 2022.
"Twenty (20) minutes after the second (2nd) interview on October 1, 2022, our Client received a congratulatory call from AMWIK’s chair thus confirming her appointment to the ED position. During the call, AMWIK’s chair informed our Client that in compliance with AMWIK’s ‘board compliance procedures on recruitment’ (if any), you would be reaching out to her referees for background checks to validate AMWIK’s board's findings. Further, you informed our Client that if you cleared her, she would soon receive her offer letter and employment contract," the letter read in part.
The association cleared Lidubwi and in alignment with their promise, sent her an offer letter through email on October 4, 2022, with an undertaking that she would receive a detailed employment contract once she accepted the offer. She sent her acceptance letter in response.
However, Lidubwi did not get any further official communication and/or contract from AMWIK and had begun to receive feedback from different workmates at her place of work that one of the board members was contacting different people asking for information about her.
"Due to the mounting pressure and undue delay, on October 20, 2022, our Client reached out to AMWIK’s chair to find out what was going on. AMWIK’s chair downplayed our Client’s concerns and said that AMWIK was still processing the contract.
"Our Client then informed AMWIK’s chair of the rumours going around that AMWIK’s board was split, and there were some board members who were favouring the other candidate who had applied for the position, but she assured her there was no cause for alarm," added the statement.
Four days later, after announcing Nyange as its new Executive Director, Lidubwi was contacted by AMWIK's chair and revealed that the position was handed to Nyange, without any formal explanation in writing to rescind the offer letter that was sent to her.
She accused AMWIK of a breach of contract, infraction and trampling of her Constitutional rights, denying her a right to reply, violation of her right to a fair hearing that flies in the face of the rules of natural justice, right to human dignity, right to privacy, right to fair administrative, right to fair labour practices, right to access to information and freedom from discrimination.
"Further, AMWIK did not comply with the law in its recruitment procedures and policy. In fact, the WhatsApp chats between our Client and AMWIK’s chair reveal that some of AMWIK’s board members decided to go on a frolic of their own, against the set protocols, and proceeded to contact our Client’s personal contacts to fish for dirt, in the guise of conducting ‘background checks’ so that she would not get the position," the letter went on.
She termed the publication as false and accentuated by extreme malevolence against her and that she has been gravely injured in her credit, personal and professional reputation.
"Take further notice that if you do NOT comply within the next 24 hours, we shall proceed to file suit seeking punitive, exemplary, compensatory damages, and costs, including but not limited to a separate suit for breach of contract, and breach of privacy," added the demand letter.
Members of AMWIK pose for a photo. /AMWIK
An email to Lidubwi on Tuesday, November 29 seen by Viral Tea revealed that AMWIK decided to retract her appointment after completion of comprehensive background checks to determine suitability in light of the needs of the association.
Lidubwi worked as a senior television producer at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) from 2007 to 2016 and was the Head of Station for three years at its sister station, Y254 TV.
