Standard Group Plc , a friendly turned fierce critic of the State, has appointed Chaacha Mwita as the substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, effective April 1, 2026.
The appointment in its Mombasa road’s corner office happens at a time the media giant is facing a possible shut down of its six broadcasting platforms due to a pending KSh 48.7m fees and levies payments owed to Communication Authority of Kenya(CAK) Multimedia Tribunal.
Chaacha Mwita has been acting CEO of Standard Group since July 2025, and has wide experience in leadership, media and communications management.
He holds an MBA from the University of St Gallen, Switzerland and has previously has previously worked with Nation Media Group and the Aga Khan Foundation. He is also in possession of a post graduate diploma in Mass Communication as well as Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Nairobi.
In a notice dated 1st April 2026, the Standard Board said, “Following a comprehensive evaluation of his performance and a structured appointment process, the Board is satisfied that Mwita has demonstrated the requisite leadership capability, experience, and integrity to assume the role on a substantive basis.”
Chaacha Mwita took over as CEO of Standard Media from Marion Gathoga Mwangi who served at the chief executive since July 2024.
Ms. Bariu, a Certified Secretary and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, has over 10 years of experience in driving organizational compliance, corporate governance, and legal affairs. Her appointment also took effect on April 1, 2026.
The 124-year-old Standard Group Plc is one of the traditional media outlets that has been struggling to shake off the intense competition for views, readers and listeners posed by numerous digital outlets, social media and startups, all having relatively less capital outlay, operational and setup costs.
“The media industry in Kenya continues to experience significant transformation driven by rapid digitalisation, shifting audience consumption patterns, and evolving economic realities. Traditional revenue models, particularly advertising/space buying, are almost collapsing, compelling media outlets and digital content creators to explore innovative and diversified approaches to content monetisation within an increasingly competitive digital economy,” said a report by the Media Council of Kenya.
Studies by the Council shows that on digital platforms used to access news or entertainment content, 51.3% of the respondents used social media (Facebook, X/twitter, TikTok, Instagram), 23.8% use streaming platforms (Netflix, Showmax, Spotify, YouTube), 13.6% use news websites, 0.5% use radio and 0.2% use television.
There is a strong shift towards digital and mobile-first media consumption in Kenya, with social media emerging as the dominant source of news and entertainment, primarily accessed via smartphones. Platform choice is mainly driven by accessibility and real-time updates, underscoring the importance of convenience and timely content. Media players must therefore invest more in professional and high-quality content, as well as prioritise specialised niche content. While advertising remains the most common monetisation model, willingness to pay for digital content is moderate, with less than half of users having paid previously.
Those who do pay are motivated primarily by content quality, exclusivity, and support for creators, with entertainment being the most preferred paid category.
The Standard Group PLC has faced significant headwinds, with a challenging economic environment impacting advertising revenue and audience engagement.
For instance, its 2024 financials shows that Revenue decreased by 23% to KSh 1.8 billion compared to KSh 2.4 billion in 2023.
This decline is primarily driven by reduced advertising spend from both corporate clients and government institutions, coupled with a downturn in audience engagement.
Financial statements covering half-year period ended 30th June 2025 shows that the Group’s Direct costs fell compared to 2024, helped by stable foreign exchange rates that lowered newsprint and electricity expenses.
Overhead costs dropped 26%, driven by prudent cost management and efficiency initiatives.
Consequently, the Group recorded a half-year pre-tax loss of KSh133 million, an improvement from Ksh200 million in 2024. Given the financial results, the Board did not recommend an interim dividend.
The Group remains committed to its core mission of delivering high-quality news and entertainment across its print, broadcast, and digital platforms. This is being implemented through a turnaround strategy focused on cost containment, revenue diversification through digital platforms, and aggressive debt collection.
ALSO READ: Standard Media Group Faces Headwinds over Unpaid KSh 48.7m Broadcasting License Fees/Levies
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