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| Former K24 TV host of the Punchline programme, Ann Kiguta. (Photo/Wikipedia) |
Ann Kiguta has finally hanged her boots at the Mediamax-owned K24 TV linked to President Uhuru Kenyatta family afer a two-year controversial stint at the station where she hosted the Sunday evening primetime news and commentary programme dubbed 'Punchline'.
While breaking the news of her resignation from the station on Sunday via her Twitter account, Kiguta revealed that she called it quits at K24 on November 21 citing 'fundamental disagreements' with the station's editorial bosses over her show.
The 36-year news anchor, noted that she was guided by the Media Council of Kenya Code of Conduct to arrive at her decision adding "I can no longer in good conscience continue to be a part of Punchline."
"Owing to a fundamental disagreement on the editorial processes and direction the show was being forced to take, I suspended my services as an independent contractor to the show on 21st November 2020 My decision was guided by the Code of Conduct contained in the Media Council of Kenya Act which guides all journalists practising in the republic of Kenya," Kiguta's statement reads in parts.
The Media Council of Kenya lauded the presenter who has previously worked for Hope FM, Capital FM, Citizen TV and KTN after she on October 19 took a bold and unprecedented move to castigate her editorial bosses live on air over a cancellation of an interview she had scheduled to have with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, a staunch critic of President Uhuru and a fierce defender of his deputy, William Ruto.
The news of her resignation have elicited mixed reactions from a section of her social media followers with some applauding her decision to stand up for independent journalism free from external interferences, something that is typical of Kenyan newsrooms.
To my viewers, thank you for watching #Punchline. Good bye for now. pic.twitter.com/LBmc7S0W2X
— Anne Kiguta (@AnneKiguta) December 6, 2020
On the other hand, there are those who poured cold water on her move terming it as populist and insiginificant to the country's media landscape ahead of the BBI referendum and 2022 General Election.
Kiguta's departure comes hot on the heels of reports that K24 management was already contemplating scrapping off the show due to poor ratings despite its huge production budget that included the host's six-figure salary.