In advance of a major layoff scheduled for September and as Kenya’s media sector continues to feel the strain from falling advertising income, veteran radio host Caroline Mutoko has mutually agreed to leave Radio Africa Group.
The radio diva has been in charge of Kiss 100’s programming and the group marketing department.
Mutoko has reportedly quietly left the media company as part of a strategic effort to reduce Radio Africa’s payroll, according to trustworthy sources.
Robert Kibutiri, the finance director for Radio Africa Group, was also fired and will go at the end of July, indicating a significant cost reduction that would not spare the top management.
“For now those two have left, but a few months ago due to redundancy, around 40 employees were let go,” the source revealed.
The planned mass layoff in September will leave the newsroom with little talent as Kenyan media houses continue to bleed audiences and advertising revenues which is the industry’s mainstay.
In other related news, Nation Media Group, the largest outlet in the region, recently sent home journalists as it struggles to transform into a digital publisher.
The move affected mostly revise editors, reporters, online video producers, and magazine editors who were termed redundant.
Standard Media Group, which has been struggling to pay salaries since last year, also sent home top talent in a bid to trim its workforce.
Top journalists who were affected include Hassan Mwana wa Ali, Ted Malanda, Jacob Ayoo, and Mercy Korir, among others.
Mutoko worked as a radio presenter at Capital FM for four years before moving to Kiss FM where she dominated the airwaves for 14 years. She has worked for the outlet since 1989.
The Nation Centre building in Nairobi’s Kimathi Street where the Nation Media Group offices are located. Monday, October 21, 2019
