Major changes in Nation Media (Memo)

02 February 2022

Major changes have been made in Nation Media according to an internal memo leaked online.

The Group CEO Stephen Gitagama, announced the editorial staff changes in the February 1, 2022, memo titled, "WE ARE A TEAM” INTER-OFFICE MEMO."

"Major changes have taken place in the media industry affecting both journalism and the commercial sector of our business.

Today, survival depends on building a diverse and youthful talent pool to take the Nation Media Group to the future. The way our business is funded has changed too and we are relying increasingly on partners to support our journalism."

He continued, "The nature of advertising has shifted from selling boxes of space to providing holistic solutions to clients which require the interplay of a multiplicity of expertise including editorial, advertising, product strategy, design among others.Management has made changes in the editorial department to align talent to these realities and prepare the Nation for the future."

Check out the changes below that take effect immediately.

1. Editor-in-Chief: Mutuma Mathiu

Mutuma becomes Editor-in-Chief as part of the redefinition of editorial leadership to reflect the increasingly more multi-platform and multi-national nature of NMG’s editorial operations. This will ensure that he provides effective strategic editorial stewardship straddling journalism, commercial, technology and stakeholder management for all the Group’s business units in Kenya, the region and beyond. Mutuma reports to the Group Chief Executive Officer.

2. Executive Editor, Partnerships: Pamella Sittoni

Pamella is redeployed to help build the Nation of the future by providing leadership in three of the most critical emerging areas: partnerships, on which our journalism increasingly relies, training - identifying the Group’s talent needs and developing them through innovative training programmes - while at the same time improving the diversity of the editorial workforce and blazing the trail in the new area of branded content, in which NMG is investing and on which the future depends. Pamella reports to the Editor-in-Chief.

3. Managing Editor, Daily Nation: Bernard Mwinzi

Bernard will lead the Daily Nation but also be involved in content generation, assist in the ideation and editing of branded content, supervise the Health Desk and set up the Climate Desk. To ensure efficiency, Bernard will take charge of production and quality, except for the weekends. Bernard reports to the Editor-in-Chief.

4. Head of News and Managing Editor, Nation.Africa: Churchill Otieno

Churchill will be the leader of the news team with the responsibility of ensuring appropriate content is provided to all platforms. He will particularly be in charge of the development, welfare and discipline of the news staff. In addition, he will see to it that the Daily Nation, the Weekends and, where there is need, NTV, are adequately served by the newsdesk. Churchill reports to the Editor-in-Chief.

5. Partnerships Manager & Gender Editor, Dorcas Muga

Dorcas, in addition to her existing duties, will coordinate the operations of all partnership projects to ensure reporting compliance with contracts and successful execution of mandate. Dorcas reports to the Executive Editor.

6. Managing Editor, Weekends: Washington Gikunju

Washington replaces Mwinzi at the Weekends. Washington will ensure the digitization of the Weekends in terms of service to their audience and revenue potential, their increased contribution to Nation.Africa, significant circulation growth and leadership of the national conversation. He reports to the Editor-in-Chief.

7. Managing Editor Sports: Elias Makori

Elias has been promoted to lead a converged sports function, serving all our current platforms. He will also synergise with editors across the Group, ensure that NMG becomes a sporting power house on the continent and develop even further partnerships with sporting bodies. Elias reports to the Editor-in-Chief.

8. Editorial Quality Lead: Catherine Wanyama

Catherine will consolidate and lead the quality function. She will make sure that every story is re-written and revised and results in a dramatic improvement in the quality of our output. Catherine reports to the Managing Editor, Daily Nation.

9. Enterprise Editor: Alex Ndegwa

Alex will be the senior editor at the Service Hub and will continue to lead the generation of prime content and be the focal point at the Hub for the production of value-added and exclusive content for print. Alex reports to the Head of News with matrix lines to the Managing Editor Daily Nation and Managing Editor Weekends.

10. Continuity Editor: Allan Olingo

Allan will be responsible for breaking news. He will lead a multi-media crack team that will be on the ground whenever a story breaks. Allan reports to the Head of News with matrix lines to the Managing Editor Daily Nation and Managing Editor Weekends.

11. Audience Editor: Lynette Mukami

Lynette will add urgency to consistency to the newsroom’s efforts to engage, serve and develop audiences. She reports to the Head of News.

12. Editor, Community & Nairobi News: Kenfrey Kiberenge

Kenfrey has been promoted to execute the dual function of leading community reporting across the country and reviving Nairobi News to serve the Nairobi metropolitan region. He will establish, by the end of the year, similar products for our key markets: Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mt Kenya, among others. Kenfrey reports to the Head of News with matrix lines to the Managing Editor Daily Nation and Managing Editor Weekends.

13. Political & Parliamentary Affairs Editor: Patrick Lang’at

Patrick takes leadership of our coverage of Parliament and politics in general. Patrick will report to the Enterprise Editor.

14. Regional Editor, Eldoret: Caroline Wafula

Caroline is transferred to Eldoret. She, like all Regional Editors, will report to the Community Editor. 15. Regional Editor, Kisumu: Justus WangaJustus Wanga is promoted to Regional Editor, Kisumu. He will report to the Community Editor. 16. News Editor, The EastAfrican: Aggrey MutamboAggrey has been promoted to take over the leadership of TEA news team. He reports to the Managing Editor, TEA.

17. News Editor, Africa: Harry Misiko

He will lead the gathering of content for Africa. He reports to the Africa Editor. 18. Senior Health Reporter: Angela OketchAngela is promoted to Senior Reporter and will continue reporting for the Health Desk and supporting the Service Hub as necessary. 19. Health Reporter: Amina WakoAmina is appointed reporter, based at the Health Desk.