Confusion as Patience Nyange’s role as AMWIK Executive Director ends

Patience Nyange has ceased to be the Association of Media Women in Kenya's Executive Director.

In a communication from the board, the chair Jane Thuo said Nyange has since been dismissed effective January 8, 2024.

"The Board of Directors has appointed Sharon Kechula who held the position of the Programs Manager as the acting Executive Director with immediate effect," Thuo said.

"With support from the board, she will oversee the association's affairs.'

But her exit has come unexpectedly with Nyange issuing a statement in her defence.

In a rebuttal, Nyange sent a message to AMWIK WhatsApp saying that her dismissal was because she 'refused to save AMWIK from the board's impunity'

"Please ignore the noise. This notice is generated, written and sponsored..." she said.

The former Executive Director said the claims in the letter are personal and do not provide grounds for suspension of her role.

She noted that the letter written to her grants her an opportunity to appeal the Board's decision by January 22.

However, the recent happenings have made it difficult for the members to comprehend.

After Nyange was dismissed, the 2023 WhatsApp group which has over 200 paid members was closed and only admins could post messages.

This made it hard for members to ask questions about what was happening at the board or even with Patience.

With the happenings, a member decided to create a temporary group for members. The group was created on January 11 and dubbed "AMWIK 2023 Temporary Group"

"Hey ladies. Thank you for joining this group. We are here in solidarity as members. We want our voices heard. We want to be informed of what is happening. We want to hold the Board accountable. We want to hear from the ED," a message sent to the group read.

The member urged the board to talk to the team to straighten out issues.

"Before we renew our membership, we want to be spoken to as valuable members of the association. So kindly go to the 2023 group and see if you can identify your friends, send them the link to join this group. We want to get to 200 of us by tomorrow so that we have numbers. Thank you," the message read in part.

By 4pm, the group had 266 members who were talking about how they were tired of not being talked to properly.

Here are some screenshots;

For one to be an Amwik member, they are expected to pay Sh3000 annually and renew their membership.