Transcend Media Group's response to Standard Newspapers Defamatory Article.
On Friday 19 th February 2016, the Standard Newspaper ran a front-page article associating Transcend Media Group (TMG) with the National Youth Service (NYS) Ksh. 791M fraud scam.
TMG seeks to clarify key issues raised by the article that are incorrect and misleading:
1. TMG benefitted from suspicious tenders with the NYS.
a) On 14th May 2014, an advertisement was placed in the Daily Nation in which the Ministry of Devolution & Planning (MODP) requested qualified companies to place Expressions of Interest in rebranding the National Youth Service (NYS).
TMG pitched for the job and after a rigorous three-part evaluation process emerged winner.
b) It is important to note that none of the losing bidders protested the decision or filed a complaint with the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA).
c) On 21st August 2014. TMG was presented with an award letter, which we accepted and thereafter entered a 1-year contract with the Ministry of Devolution & Planning to rebrand and roll out communication for the new NYS.
d) On 20th June 2015, TMG's contract with the Ministry of Devolution and Planning came to an end and we were paid in accordance to the terms stipulated in our contract. Each tranche of payment was supported by a detailed report of work that had been undertaken.
2. TMG is a questionable company without offices and whose telephone numbers are answered by a taxi operator.
a) The article correctly names Peter Muthoka Lai as a director of TMG but incorrectly states that we are a questionable company with a sole director. TMG is a full-service advertising agency and has been in full operation since 2009 trading as a Limited Liability Company.
b) TMG is a member of several professional bodies, such as Association of Practitioners in Advertising. Marketing Society of Kenya, Association of Public Relations & Communication Management Firms and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) of which we are signatories to the approved Business Code of Ethics.
We are also affiliated to McCann World Group, a leading global marketing firm.
c) Over the last 7 years, we have had the privilege of working with renowned companies such as Kenya Power, Communications Authority of Kenya, South African Tourism, Nation Media Group, East African Breweries Limited, IEBC, UNDP, and Population Services Kenya amongst many others including the Standard Group.
On 26th February 2016, TMG (through our lawyers) demanded for an apology from Standard Newspaper and correction of the defamatory article. When they failed to do so, we filed a legal suit seeking damages for defamation occasioned by the article.
Additionally, we have asked the court to order an injunction restraining Standard Newspaper from publishing such articles about Transcend Media Group again.
We would like to reiterate to our esteemed clients and the general public that Transcend Media Group is and has always been committed to applying the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in its business practices. Basic principles of ethical business conduct are expected of all its directors, employees, shareholders, suppliers and clients.