This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
On July 2, 2020, Nation Media Group began a restructuring process aimed at cutting costs and growing revenues in the face of an economic slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The process, which has seen the exit of several top managers and senior editors, has now turned its focus on unionizable journalists affiliated with the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ).
Among those who received redundancy letters on Tuesday and Wednesday are education writer Ouma Wanzala, court reporter Abuid Ochieng, and Sub Editors Catherine Kitaka and Judith Ogecha. Gracious Gitogho from the IT department also received a redundancy letter.
The restructuring process, which aims to offload about 100 employees, has already seen the exit of several top managers, including Nation Newspaper Division MD Francis Munywoki and senior newspaper editors. The majority of presenters at NTV have also been pushed out.
Other employees who have lost their jobs include Stellar Maina, head of graphic design in the advertising department, and Dorcus Mahianda, a business manager and Nation Sacco Board Director. The Circulation Department has lost nine employees, while the Nation printing plant based on Mombasa Road has lost five managers.
Most media houses are offloading employees to survive the Covid-19 pandemic disruption. Already, Mediamax has sent home nearly 100 employees, while Royal Media Services and Standard Group are also restructuring.
