Migrations have continue in the Kenyan media and, as is to be expected, some lost and others gained. Both NMG and Standard Group made key appointments aimed at, as they always say, “strengthening operations and improving delivery of services”. Royal Media Services, the new kid on the block, remained close on the heels of NMG and The Standard Group, making at least one key appointment. 

Nation Media Group
Ian Fernandes – Had come to be regarded as the face of KTN, having spent much of his youthful years there as technical director. But the drastic shift in management forced him to leave acrimoniously in late 2005 to join NMG, where he was a valuable catch for the then struggling NTV. He has since become, like he was at KTN, the group’s most valuable asset in broadcasting and digital division. He is now the Managing Director Digital and broadcasting division.

Linus Kaikai – A dependable reporter at KTN in the late 1990s, he left in 2000 as his star was still shining to South African Broadcasting Corporation where he had a rather quite career, at least with regard to the local scene. He resurfaced in 2007 when he declared his interest in the Kilgoris parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket, a quest he abandoned to rejoin KTN as a Managing Editor (Quality) in the same year. Last July, he moved to the still struggling NTV in what looked like a bid by the management to shore up the station’s performance. He is now the Managing Editor (Production) for both radio and TV.

Emmanuel Juma – He served for long as a reporter for the state owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, a station he left in 1999 to join Royal Media Services (Citizen TV). He again left soon after to join KTN, where he basically replaced the departing Linus Kaikai. He left briefly for further studies overseas and when he returned after a year, he rose steadily through the ranks to become the Managing Editor, KTN. He however quickly followed Ian Fernandes to NTV in early 2006, taking over as the Managing Editor (both news and production). The arrival of Linus Kaikai last July has however seen his responsibility split up, with production going to Kaikai as Emmanuel remains with the news docket.       

Victor Ngei– He has been appointed the General Manager for the broadcasting division. He was previously at NTV, Uganda, where he worked for three years. In total, the youthful GM has been with NMG for 12 years.

John Wilkins – He currently the General Manager for the Radio sub division, which is within the wider broadcasting division. He has previously been head of radio at NMG for 5 years, during which he oversaw the growth of Easy FM and the launch of Qfm. He has had a long career in radio and has been in all the major stations such as Capital FM and Kiss FM, which he also helped launch. He has trained a number of presenters working in various radio stations in Kenya today.

Standard Group changes
Kipkoech Tanui – Previously a reporter at The Daily Nation before moving to The Standard, he has risen through the ranks until early last June when he was appointed the New Managing editor (Daily)

Dr George Nyabuga – Joined The Standard newspaper in 1994 as a sub editor before quitting in 2000 to proceed to UK for further studies. He returned a while ago and started teaching journalism at The University of Nairobi, in the course of which he joined Media Institute in May as a principal assistant to the Executive Director. He moved to The Standard in June to take up a new position as Managing Editor (convergence)

Munyori Buku – A former teacher, Munyori joined Daily Nation as a subeditor in 1998 after completing his postgraduate diploma in journalism from the University of Nairobi. He moved to The Standard at the end of 2003 as an editor for the education pullout, Schools and Careers, but eventually served in various capacities in production before rising to become Deputy Managing Editor (production and quality) in mid 2007. He was appointed Managing editor (Weekend Editions) last June.

Musauh Musau – Served at the then East African Standard briefly as a sub editor before leaving for the Daily Nation as a sub editor in 1998. She resigned in 2005 to proceed to US for further studies. In August 2007 she was appointed Deputy Managing Editor, The Standard (Daily). In June 2008 she was promoted to the position of Managing Editor (Daily), a position she held until June this when she was transferred to Magazines in the same capacity.

Woka Nyagwoka – A long serving editor on various desks (news, administration and production) at The Standard, he eventually rose in 2007 to become senior associate editor (magazines), a position he held until June 2008 when he was promoted to become Deputy Managing Editor (Daily)

The other beneficiaries of the latest round of promotions at The Standard Group were Peter Okong’o, who has risen to become the new deputy Managing Editor, business and economic analysis for the newspaper; Ondeko Aura, who now becomes Senior Associate Editor at KTN; Kizito Namulanda, who rises to Managing Editor (Management and quality) at KTN and Innoccent Mbaya, who becomes the new Swahili Editor for KTN.