Caroline Mutoko, a well-known radio presenter, has left Radio Africa Group by mutual agreement with the management. This comes ahead of a planned mass layoff in September, as Kenya’s media industry continues to struggle with declining advertising revenues. Mutoko served as the Group Marketing Manager and 100 program controller.
A source familiar with the restructuring at the media outlet revealed that Mutoko silently left the company as part of a strategic plan to reduce Radio Africa’s payroll. The Finance Director, Robert Kibutiri, has also been pushed out and will be leaving at the end of July. This indicates a far-reaching cost-cutting effort that will affect top management as well.
The struggling media house is also planning to lay off an unknown number of employees, mostly from the editorial department, including those from the Star. This comes after around 40 employees were let go a few months ago due to redundancy. The planned mass layoff in September will leave the newsroom with limited talent, as Kenyan media houses continue to face challenges with audience and advertising revenues.
Nation Media Group, the largest media outlet in the region, recently sent home journalists as it tries to transform into a digital publisher. The move affected revise editors, reporters, online video producers, and magazine editors who were deemed redundant. Standard Media Group, which has been struggling to pay salaries since last year, also had to let go of top talent to reduce its workforce.
Mutoko worked as a radio presenter at Capital FM for four years before joining FM, where she dominated the airwaves for 14 years. She has been with the outlet since 1989.
by: ULTIMATE_NEWS