The Star to Launch Paywall as Radio Africa Shakes Up Staff

Radio Africa-owned newspaper The Star is set to launch an online paywall on its website as the company aims to to double its digital revenue in the next one year. Aside from The Star, Radio Africa controls several radio stations including Radio Jambo and Kiss as well as online platform Mpasho.

Radio Africa is shaking up its teams to execute the digital strategy. An internal memo seen by Business Today Kenya issued on October 4 confirmed the appointment of Francis Mureithi as Digital Editor for Radio Africa Group. Mureithi has since 2016 been the group’s News Editor.

“Mureithi will look to create new products, especially audio-visual content, in order to double our digital revenue in the next one year as we move towards a paywall,” Radio Africa disclosed.

The Editor who joined The Star 13 years ago was described as “a newsman to the core.”

Mureithi takes over from Oliver Mathenge who has been the group’s Digital Editor for the past five years. “Radio Africa will always be grateful to Mathenge for the part he played in growing the digital section of the business,” the company noted.

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Legacy media players including market-leader Nation Media Group (NMG) have in the past year accelerated their digital transformation plans by launching paywalls and upgrading digital content offerings, a move attributable to factors including shifting consumer trends over many years and the Covid-19 pandemic’s re-shaping of everyday life. The Star is Kenya’s third-biggest newspaper by circulation after The Nation and Standard newspapers. Its website is also among Kenya’s most visited websites, ranking 39th on Alexa as of October 5th..

Jillo Kadida, who has been Deputy News Editor and leader of the Court team, will take over as News Editor from Mureithi. The former Daily Nation journalist’s immediate tasks will include spearheading the continued evolution of Radio Africa’s converged newsroom, growing the editorial team, and implementing a comprehensive news gathering strategy.

She will be the the first woman in the history of Radio Africa to occupy the converged News Editor’s position.

Both she and Mureithi will report to the group’s Head of Content Paul Ilado.

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