This article has been updated to reflect latest changes
Big names including senior editors are among journalists that Nation Media Group (NMG) is reportedly laying off as it trims its payroll. The company started issuing redundancy letters to employees earmarked for the sack just hours after NMG Group CEO, Mr Stephen Gitagama, issued a notice of reorganisation in a circular on 30th November, 2022.
In the notice, he warned that the changes would be ‘unsettling’ but necessary in building the NMG of the future. Indeed, last evening news started filtering out over possible names on their way out – a fat list that has left the media industry wondering what Nation Centre will look like once the restructuring music stops playing.
The changes read like an unpacking of newsroom allies of former Editor-in-Chief Mutuma Mathiu, who was in early November reassigned to the role of Consulting Editor and replaced by Mr Joe Ageyo as Editorial Director.
Preliminary reports show one of the biggest casuálties in the retrenchment is the Kenya Editors Guild President, Mr Churchill Otieno, who has been Head of News and Managing Editor. Mr Churchill has been at Nation for decades, rising through the ranks. He previously worked as managing editor digital before being appointed head of development and learning. He is currently serving his last term as KEG president, a welfare organization representing senior journalists in Kenya.
Mr Churchill’s exit comes just weeks after a shakeup of the Daily Nation top management which saw Managing Editor Bernard Mwinzi moved to the position of managing editor value-added content and the return of Pamela Sittoni to the helm of DN as executive editor.
Another bigshot said to have been pushed out is Political and Parliamentary Affairs Editor, Mr Guchu Ndung’u. Mr Peter Ngare, long-serving managing editor for Taifa Leo, NMG’s Kiswahili publication, has also been sent home. Taifa Leo Features Editor Muthoni Kariuki is also leaving.
See >> Journalists On President Ruto’s Most Wanted List
According to reports from insiders at Nation Centre, other journalists who have received their letters include senior investigative reporter Vincent Achuka and news reporter Silas Apolo.
More letters are being issued today with tension high at Nation Centre. “This one is massive,” a senior journalist at Nation told BT.
Group CEO Stephen Gitagama said the recent shift in the company’s operational strategy geared at accelerating growth had necessitated extremely difficult decisions, which will include some of its employees losing their jobs. “Regrettably, this refocus will result in a reorganisation of our workforce,” he said.
Next Read >> Limping Standard Group Struggles To Pay Its Employees
If this will cure the Nation,so be it. This newspaper changed from being a bastion of truth to some unrecognizable little paper. The paper I would read even as a second copy from the 70s ceased to exist. Many got disappointed and stopped buying. I even unsubscribed. The election coverage was totally unacceptable,biased,unfounded attack on one side of the divide and failure to stand by the truth. Then again negative mental attitude always collapse.
I hope new crop can rebuild.
You are absolutely spot on, I couldn’t agree with you more!
What a shame!!!
Giving up on free speech and freedom of press for ur bottom line!!!
It’s so sad to hear one of the biggest newpapers in the country lay out it’s employees.The economic situations in our country is wanting.
Sanity, let Royal Media Service copy paste,,, the campaign coverage was not ethical
This is massive indeed. Pray that the restructuring will bear fruit and that it’s not motivated by internal politics.
Changes are inevitable
The Nation has changed nothing else should remain the same
Change is Change
We expected this paradigm shift earlier than yesterday.
Refocusing is good and restoring customer confidence the best strategy to improve standards.
FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD FIRST. TO SAVE NATION, WILFRED KIBORO AND STEPHEN GITAGAMA SHOULD BE FIRED.
Re-organizing re-constructing requires such aggressive moves,so long as we need the sanity.
This is really massive, but i hope the management has laid off all the errors by persona and they have accepted their mistakes rather than wipe them off without give them the reasons behind. It’s tough times economically, no one may bare to quit job near January.