Simon Kariithi quits as MultiChoice Kenya GM for commercial, follows Eric Odipo out the door at the pay-TV operator in East Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

Simon Kariithi has quit MultiChoice in Kenya where he was the MultiChoice Kenya general manager for commercial, leaving shortly after Eric Odipo quit as MultiChoice Kenya managing director in late-2019.

Eric Odipo joined MultiChoice Kenya in September 2017 from Westcon Africa, and has now been replaced by Nancy Matimu.

Simon Kariithi left MultiChoice Kenya at the end of December 2019 with no announcement from the pay-TV company. He joined MultiChoice Kenya in March 2017 as the general manager for GOtv Kenya.

In a bitter court battle, the sagging beams building case drags on as MultiChoice Kenya wants to get rid of (but can't) the defective Nairobi building from its fired concrete contractor that was supposed to be the pay-TV operator's new Kenya headquarters.

MultiChoice Kenya is locked in a bitter court battle as a "sagging beams building" case drags on with a local contractor, Cementers Limited in Nairobi, Kenya, over a defective office block that was built and supposed to become its new Kenya headquarters but that the Naspers-owned pay-TV operator now just wants to get rid of but can't.

The mega-project - a 4-storey, 8 000 square feet building - was supposed to become MultiChoice East Africa's new showpiece building (artist's impression pictured right), incorporating features like water recycling and various smart technology to conserve energy, as well having an underground parking area, and even a restaurant.

But that was before the massive structural building problems with the project emerged, with MultiChoice Kenya now just wanting to get rid of the constructed mess.

In an odd twist, Cementers Limited went to court and sued MultiChoice Kenya, trying to prevent MultiChoice Kenya from selling the defective building of R125.63 million (Sh895 million) that was erected in Oloitoktok Road in Lavington in Kenya's capital before the building dispute is resolved.

Kenya's judge James Makau granted the order preventing "MultiChoice Kenya or its agents from advertising or offering for sale the property".

MultiChoice Kenya has further been ordered to "preserve" the defective building in its current state, pending the outcome of the court case.

Meanwhile MultiChoice Kenya has petition the court to allow it to continue with the planned sale of the defective building where beams started sagging in January 2016, saying it's making a loss of R650 000 (Sh4.6 million) per month having to pay for security, insurance and trying to "maintain" the defective building project.

In August Cementers Limited got a court order allowing it to go into MultiChoice Kenya's head office for the project's structural engineer to find the documents it wants in its court case with MultiChoice Kenya.

Cementers Limited confiscated electronics and documents in 6 August, something that MultiChoice Kenya is challenging in court, saying the "blanket access" of Cementers Limited to its office carries the risk of exposing the confidential information of DStv and GOtv subscribers, like their personal details, including names, addresses, smart card information and addresses.

Eric Odipo, MultiChoice Kenya managing director, says Cementers Limited was dumped in June 2017 and MultiChoice's contract with the contractor terminated after the contractor was given notice.

Cementers Limited blames the structural engineers who worked on the building and is arguing that they should be held liable.

Cementers Limited also claims that a report from Interconsult Limited, commissioned by MultiChoice Kenya and Conapex Consulting Engineers Limited as an independent expert to audit the building after the defects were discovered, had been "doctored" to show that the problems in the building and the sagging beams have been caused by the concrete.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 12 September 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read, and that you should too:

■ Why do TV reporters stand outside in storms?
With Hurricane Irma in Florida in the United States, a debate starts over why TV reporters from channels like CNN are standing in storms and why TV news channels are not leading by example by staying indoors.

■ Amazon abruptly cancels The Last Tycoon.
The brand-new drama series on Amazon Prime Video is suddenly over.
It's part of Jeff Bezos ordering Amazon Studios to dump the low-grade trash and to start producing "high-end drama series with global appeal".

■ Only one-third of TV production money in the United Kingdom is spent outside of London.
New survey also finds that just 35% of full-time jobs in Britain's TV industry are outside of London.
There's no comparable study for South Africa, but the figures for South Africa's TV biz and Johannesburg will likely be even worse.

■ FOX News (StarSat 261) is getting an updated on-screen logo and a redesigned lower-third graphics package.

■ ANN7 (DStv 405) is a purveyor of propaganda as yet another DStv subscriber vocally ends his subscription because MultiChoice carries ANN7.

■ BBC female TV stars demand urgent action over being paid less than men.
They say "fair pay for women across the BBC is a very serious issue.

■ In the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery the new Klingons are Donald Trump supporters.
The "bad" Klingon race has been modeled on supporters of Donald Trump in America: "The United States is actually right at the place where Starfleet finds itself in episode one".

■ FOX News (StarSat 261) fires Eric Bolling and cancels The Specialists.
Shortly after his embarrassing firing, his son Eric Chase (19) kills himself.

■ No plan for same-sex couples on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing UK also seen in South Africa on BBC Lifestyle on DStv.

■ MultiChoice Zambia says local Zambian films have potential but must improve to international standards.
DStv channels like Zambesi Magic from M-Net is helping Zambian filmmakers to improve their quality.

■ Eric Odipo is MultiChoice Kenya's new managing director after quitting Westcon Africa.
Now oversees the operations of DStv, GOtv and SuperSport in the East African nation.

■ An oral history of Ally McBeal that used to be on SABC3 and that turns 20 year old.
The cast talks about what they remember, and share interesting insider information.

MultiChoice in Kenya, Zambia, Ghana announces DStv price cuts for all DStv subscriptions from September.

MultiChoice is lowering DStv subscription prices for DStv subscribers in Zambia, Kenya, Ghana - and possibly in more African countries - for all DStv bouquets from 1 September 2017.

No price reduction has been announced for DStv in South Africa.

"This substantial price reduction across our DStv packages reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our customers receive the best possible access to great entertainment and outstanding value," says Kobus Bezuidenhout, regional director for MultiChoice Investment Holdings (MIH) West & Central Africa.


In Kenya DStv Premium will be cut by 3.42% to Sh7,900 and DStv Compact Plus by 4.15% Sh5,200.

DStv Compact is reduced to Sh3,200 and DStv Access by 9.52% to Sh950.

MultiChoice Africa said the DStv price reduction in Kenya is due to the strengthening of the Kenyan shilling against the American dollar. MultiChoice Africa's GOtv subscriptions for its digital terrestrial TV service will remain unchanged.

According to Eric Odipo, MultiChoice Kenya managing director, the MultiChoice Kenya price cut is as a result of the improving Kenya Shilling against the dollar.

"The majority of our input costs are in US dollars and we hope we will not experience any further currency devaluations or other unexpected increases in costs for the remainder of the year. It is also a way of rewarding our customers for their loyalty and support," says Eric Odipo.


In Zambia DStv Premium is reduced by 3.42% to K790, DStv Compact Plus is cut a whopping 16.04% to K450, DStv Compact is reduced by 6.54% to K300, DStv Family is going down 2.43% to K200 and DStv Access is reduced by 7.4% to K100.

According to Ngoza Kasunga, MultiChoice Zambia acting managing director, the reduction in that country isn't based on currencies like fluctiations in the value of the Kwacha, but on a value proposition.

"MultiChoice continuously reviews its packages ans price points in the dynamic market conditions with the interests of our customers at heart and with one objective in mind – to delight customers by constantly offering them more value," said Ngoza Kasunga.

"We are delivering more value to our customers by giving them access to amazing local and international content at a price they can afford."

"The business recognizes that we are living in changing economic times and wants to reward customers for their ongoing loyalty and support. In April 2016, we had a 'no price increases' or price lock on all packages in order to provide relief to our customers in the current tough economic conditions."

Ngoza Kasunga at a breakfast press briefing held on Tuesday in Lusaka, said MultiChoice Zambia "doesn't price based on what competitors are doing".

Should Zambia's Kwacha not depreciate and production costs remain the same, the new MultiChoice Zambia prices for DStv subscriptions will remain in place until MultiChoice Zambia holds its next price review in April of 2018.


In Ghana Cecil Sunka-Mills, MultiChoice Ghana general manager in a statement said MultiChoice Ghana is lowering DStv subscription fees to make DStv more affordable.

"We want to do our bit by adjusting the price of their DStv packages to make them more affordable while adding more value."

"The majority of our input costs are in US dollars and we hope we won't experience any further currency devaluations or other unexpected increases in costs for the remainder of the year."