“They Choose Violence Instead of Paying Me”: Photographer Claims Standard Group Assaulted Him Over Unpaid Dues

A freelance photojournalist, Denish Ochieng, has come forward with serious accusations against one of Kenya’s biggest media houses, The Standard Group PLC. Ochieng claims that instead of settling a debt of KSh 217,786 they have owed him since last year, the company sent security officers to rough him up.

Speaking about the incident, Ochieng said he had tried every peaceful way to get his money. “I’ve tried all means, but they operate with impunity, resorting to violence,” he explained. He says the assault happened after he kept pushing for his payment, and instead of getting his dues, he got beaten.

A Painful Reminder of Two Lost Colleagues

For Ochieng, this fight is not just about his own money. He says the company’s habit of delaying payments has already cost two lives. He recalled a former colleague named Katana who passed away in 2024 after battling depression. According to Ochieng, Katana had worked for the company for 25 years without being fully paid what he was owed.

Then there is Rashid, another former colleague, who died in December 2025. Ochieng says Rashid’s death came from blood pressure problems brought on by the stress of unpaid dues. “How many more must this company depress to death?” Ochieng asked painfully.

A Bitter Hope for Treatment

In a sad turn, Ochieng says that if he finally receives his money from The Standard Group, he will use it to seek medical treatment. He did not share details about his exact condition, but his words suggest the long struggle has already taken a heavy toll on his own health.

The Standard Group PLC has not yet released an official response to these accusations. Ochieng, meanwhile, is left waiting and wondering whether justice will come before it is too late.