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Kenyan media companies: Some profile

Nation Media Group.

The Nation Media Group (NMG) is the largest media company in East and central Africa. Its CEO is Mr.Linus Gitahi who succeeded Mr.Wilfred Kiboro, who is now the chairman of the board. It joined the exclusive billion shilling profit club of Kenyan companies a few years ago. Its publications include the Daily Nation, the Saturday Nation and the Sunday Nation. It celebrated its Golden Jubilee last year. It was founded by the Aga Khan. Its other publications include the Business Daily and Taifa Leo. It also runs NTV, Easy FM and QFM ( A Kiswahili station.)

Standard Group.
This is the oldest media company in Kenya, having been in existence for just over 100 years. It runs the Standard, the Saturday standard, The Sunday standard, KTN and Radio Maisha.

Royal Media Services.
This is a media company that was founded by Mr.SK Macharia, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Kenya. It has a host of media stations. There are many vernacular radio stations. The brands that are most popular include Citizen TV and radio Citizen. Citizen TV is now the most widely watched TV station in Kenya, and its programs seem to have resonated well with the average Kenyan. The introduction of the Naija movies and some local productions such as Tahidi High and Mother in Law captivated the Kenyan audiences. The station also acquired top journalists from rival TV stations. Some of the anchors/journalists that were poached include Julie Gichuru, Catherine Kasavuli, Alex Chamwada, Belinda Obura, and their latest addition Lilian Muli. The poaching of CEO Mr.Wachira Waruru from KBC has proved to be invaluable in the station’s turnaround. It is hard to think that the station that was at one time cut off from air for months is now a business success story case study at Strathmore University.

Radio Africa.
Radio Africa has grown over the years, thanks to the business savvy of its MD, Mr. Patrick Quaccor . The popular brands of the company include Kiss 100 FM, Classic 105, Radio Jambo and the Star newspaper. Its presenters such as Caroline Mutoko, Shaffie Weru, Maina Kageni, Ciku are popular faces in the Kenyan media circles.


K24.
This was supposed to be the Kenyan CNN but the jury is still out on whether it has achieved its objectives. It was launched in late 2007 by veteran media entrepreneur Rose Kimotho. Ms. Kimotho is the founder of the vernacular station;Kameme FM and she hoped to replicate kameme’s success to K24. The flagship of the station is the capital talk show by former CNN reporter Jeff Koinange.

Capital FM
This is a station that mainly caters for the high end of the market with its rock music that is loved by Kenya’s urbane population. It is run by industrialist Chris Kirubi or as he calls himself, DJ CK.

Milele FM
This is a Kiswahili station that mainly plays rhumba music. It also plays Kiswahili Gospel music the whole Sunday. It was founded by Mr.Granton Samboja, who had previously been a presenter at Classic 105 rhumba program some years back. He parted ways with his erstwhile buddy, Titi Nagwala, who left the station to join Radio Jambo.


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