Uncertainty has gripped Nation Media Group over the decision by His Highness Aga Khan to deploy a team from France to review the media house’s operations.
His Highness is said to have engaged Aiglemont Estate, a France-based audit firm to probe activities in Nairobi, amid rising cases of resignation from then East Africa’s leading media outlet.
The recent reinstatement of, Mr Eric Obino, as the Executive Editor in charge of Weekend publications after he was previously demoted as production editor and later retrenchment in January is said to be part of the re-organisation being spearheaded by a special team from Aiglemont.
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Insiders at NMG have repeatedly murmured that the company is undergoing difficult financial times. The company’s financial reserves that stood at more than Sh 3 billion have been depleted under suspicious circumstances; its share value has dropped considerably, between 2014 and 2017.
Stock market enthusiast at analyst Aly Khan Satchu expressed fears for top editors and managers at Nation Media, following the deployment of the team from France.
“Panic has gripped senior editors and managers at Nation Media Group after the company’s majority shareholder Aga Khan deployed a special team from Aiglemont Estate, France to probe activities in Nairobi,” he said on Twitter.
Nearly a week ago, eight leading columnists for different NMG publications resigned citing lack of editorial independence. The columnists who resigned are KNHCR deputy chairperson George Kegoro, Muthoni Wanyeki, Gabriel Dolan, and Rasna Warah. Others are Maina Kiai, Gabrielle Lynch, Nic Cheeseman, and Kwamchetsi Makokha.
Meanwhile, key journalists have ditched the leading brands in the company for competitor stations. In January, Madowo was engaged in a public altercation with then CEO Joe Muganda, at a staff meeting, accusing management of not defending media freedoms.
NTV's Swahili editor and anchor Jamila Mohamed (Swahili) has joined Citizen TV.