Makali raids NMG to boost Star talent pool

Nation Media Group (NMG) has been hit hard by New Year staff exits, becoming a victim of poaching by a rejuvenated Star newspaper.

Radio Africa’s new chief editor David Makali, who was hired last December to breathe new life in the newspaper, has raided NMG especially Business Daily which has seen three reporters decamp.

Those who have left BD include court reporter Brian Wasuna, former Reuters writer Kevin Mwanza and lifestyle writer and data scientist Isabella Mukumu, who are believed to be headed to Lion Place to work for Radio Africa.

Stellah Murumba, the young journalist who broke the Sh5 billion Afya House mobile clinics scandal, is understood to have left to join a NGO based in Nairobi. Inside sources at Business Daily indicate that Nation Media has recalled Galgayo Fayo, who was working with Tana River County Government as a communications director, to replace Wasuna in courts.

READ: Tuskys bets on partnerships, innovation to drive growth

These exits will tighten the noose on Business Daily, and NMG in general, which has been losing key writers over the past two years to rivals and the PR world and likely to push Nation into avenging for the loss. Standard reporters would be easy prey given the tension at the media house, where succession battles for top management and editorial positions has distabilised the newsroom.

The company recently retrenched 10 journalists and there are whispers of more sackings in the coming months.

However, Weekend Editions News Editor Mwaniki Munuhe, who was among top editors targeted in the retrenchment exercise, made a surprise comeback from his annual leave early this week in what sources say was a culmination of “high level interventions.”

His retrenchment had been opposed by section editors who termed him as a key pillar at the Mombasa Road- headquartered media house.