More than 1,300 employees, including Kenyan journalists, face potential job losses after being placed on administrative leave by international media Voice of America (VOA). 

The mass suspension of normal service came after the termination of funding for two U.S. news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes. 

Notably, the move came just a day after President Donald Trump ordered drastic budget cuts affecting the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) which is VOA’s parent organisation, along with six other federal agencies.

“This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,” the order read. VOA’s director Michael Abramowitz confirmed the new development noting that it was the first time in the company's 83-year history that they had faced such a setback. “I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” he wrote on LinkedIn. 

Kenyan journalists working at VOA are likely to be affected by the suspension, as the company boasts several Kenyan natives in different capacities.  

The likes of Vincent Makori, a writer, reporter, translator, and broadcaster in Swahili, and Esther Githui Ewart, a lead anchor and writer for VOA’s English to Africa program, face uncertainty as the media shutdown takes effect. 

The USAGM has also withdrawn financial support from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which broadcasts to Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine - two nations that have been the subject of controversial political news in recent years. 

Experts are worried the cuts jeopardise access to independent journalism in authoritarian nations, which are perceived to be among the most reliable in providing accurate news. 

Founded in 1942, VOA was birthed mainly to counter Nazi propaganda. Today, the platform reaches over 360 million people weekly, with news getting disseminated in 50 languages. 

According to a memo sent to staff on Saturday morning, VOA employees are expected to surrender their USAGM identification badges and press passes since they will not be on official duty during the forced leave, 

The memo also cautioned workers on leave against entering their work premises or accessing USAGM internal systems without permission from the human resources executive or “prior” permission from their supervisors. 

Further, employees were instructed to always be available by phone and email during business hours. Workers are also expected to be available to report to work within one business day of being contacted. By Rene Otinga, Kenyans.co.ke