This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
On July 1, Nation Media Group's group CEO, Stephen Gitagama, released a circular on restructuring that sent shockwaves through the Nation family in Nairobi and the counties.
Just hours later, the company's human resources department began notifying employees through phone calls, marking the beginning of the retrenchment process.
According to sources at NMG's HR office, around 60 journalists could be pushed out from its main operation in Kenya, with 40 from the newspaper section and 20 from broadcast, mainly NTV.
Across the region, the company targets over 100 employees, as the economic impact of Covid-19 takes its toll on the circulation of newspapers, viewership, and advertising.
Gitagama acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, 'It is an extremely difficult decision in view of the prevailing circumstances and we understand the impact this will have on those affected and their families.'
The company has put in place arrangements to provide support for exiting staff, including counseling, relocation assistance, and medical cover for a period of two months.
Published on July 2, 2020, Nation Media Group's retrenchment plan has sparked concerns about the quality of its journalism and its market share in the face of rival media houses.
