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Media Giant Without Bureaus: NMG on Why It’s Closing Regional Offices

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NMG CEO Nation. Media Group
NMG Chief Executive Office, Mr Geoffrey Odundo.
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The Nation Media Group (NMG) management has confirmed plans to close regional bureaus, in a strategic shift to contain operational costs. Speaking a day after Business Today exclusively reported the planned March 2026 closure of Mombasa bureau, NMG CEO, Mr Geoffrey Odundo, said the leading media house is undergoing operational adjustment to align its infrastructure with its digital ambition.

He said the closure of Mombasa bureau followed engagements between the Editor-in-Chief, Joe Ageyo, and the Mombasa team. Mr Odundo confirmed that in March 2026, NMG will transition the Mombasa bureau to a fully remote working model and relinquish the physical office space. The fate of other bureaus is clear: leases will be terminated as they expire.

“NMG has been on an accelerated transformation journey guided by our North Star Strategy, to become a digital-first, audience-driven media house, from the last quarter of 2022,” Mr Odundo said in a circular to employees released on 20th FEB 2026. “As part of this journey, several operational adjustments have been undertaken to better align our cost structure and infrastructure with our digital ambition.”

NMG regional newsrooms, known in as bureaus in media parlance and key stations for news collections, are being transformed into what is now referred to as “remote working models”. Already, Meru, Kakamega and Kisii bureaus have been converted into remote working models, meaning journalists and other employees in these regions are now working from home, cyber cafes and hotels.

> Gulf Energy Secures $15 Million on Shore Oil Rig in Abu Dhabi 

The management says this is aimed at reducing office space in select locations, and consolidating its occupancy at Nation Centre, the company’s head office on Kimathi Street in Nairobi city centre.

NMG clarified that this is a strategic adjustment of physical footprint that does not represent a withdrawal from regional journalism. “Our editorial presence across the country remains essential to our mission to positively influence society,” he said. “These steps, therefore, form part of a broader effort to ensure long-term sustainability while protecting our core investment in journalism and digital growth.”

Nation Media Group has been facing financial constraints, with revenues falling year on year. For the half-year ended 30th June, 2025, NMG reported a reduced loss after tax of KSh41.7 million, compared to a KSh260.2 million loss in the same period in 2024. This 84% improvement was driven by cost-cutting, 7% growth in digital revenue, and improved operational efficiency, despite a 5.7% decline in overall turnover to KSh 2.993 billion.

> NMG Terminates Contracts For Correspondents and Contributors

Written by
KALU MENGO -

Kalu Mengo is a Senior Reporter With Business Today. Email: [email protected]

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