Nation Media Group (NMG) has raided Standard Group for reporters in what is likely to spark a new round of talent wars between the two leading newspaper publishers.
Business Today has confirmed that Standard newspaper senior investigative reporters Paul Wafula and Vincent Achuka will be rejoining their former employer after their employment was approved on Friday.
Also joining NMG is Standard business reporter Dominic Omondi, who will be posted to the Business Daily.
Barely after being appointed Editorial Director, Mutuma Mathiu is moving to rebuild the Nation newspapers investigations desk and business reporting. And he’s going for some of its former journalists grabbed by Standard in the never ending battle for readers.
Wafula and Achuka were both finalists in the 2017 Media Council Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) in the business reporting category.
Wafula joined Standard in 2012 when then CEO Sam Shollei made a daring raid on Nation, its former employer, taking top journalists as well as HR manager Pauline Kiraithe.
Achuka, on other hand, went to Standard in March 2017 to join the Dennis Galava team on weekend.
READ: MUTUMA MATHIU: WILL HE RESTORE ‘THE TRUTH’ IN NATION?
At Nation, the two will join John Kamau on the investigations and special projects desk, which had dwindled over the past two or so years due to staff exits.
It is understood that NMG editorial leadership is reaching out to more reporters including Nairobian writer David Odongo.
This raid will deal a blow to Standard which has been trying to strengthen its content in an effort to woo more readers.
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For Nation Media Group, which has completed succession process in both management and editorial, new talent is expected to boost its products as itseeks to widen its lead in the newspaper market, even as its broadcast division struggles.
Insiders say, stung by the latest poaching, Standard is planning a retaliatory plan that could shake some desks at Nation which implemented a painful restructuring that left the newsroom with near-skeleton staff.
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