By Spy Uganda
Kenya’s leading media house, the Nation Media Group (NMG), has announced the closure of its Mombasa bureau in a significant restructuring move aimed at streamlining operations and cutting costs amid sustained financial pressure.
The decision, which takes effect in March, marks the first major regional shutdown under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo. Employees at the coastal bureau—including journalists, marketing and advertising staff, and support teams—have already been notified of the impending closure.
Staff members have been directed to work remotely from March 1, as the company prepares to vacate its Mombasa office premises. According to insiders, a lorry is scheduled to collect company assets and equipment shortly after operations cease at the physical location.
The closure of the Mombasa bureau signals a deeper structural shift within the media giant, which has been grappling with declining revenues in recent years. Despite reporting a loss after tax of between Ksh41.7 million and Ksh56.3 million for the first half of 2025, the company registered an 85.9 percent improvement compared to the Ksh345.8 million loss recorded during a similar period in 2024.
While the improved financial performance suggests gradual recovery efforts, NMG continues to face strong headwinds, particularly from digital disruption. The rapid rise of global social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok has significantly impacted traditional advertising revenues, long considered the backbone of print and broadcast media business models.
Market watchers note that NMG had earlier issued a profit warning in 2023, highlighting the depth of the financial challenges facing the media industry. Leadership changes at the top have so far yielded incremental but not transformative results.
Mombasa has historically been one of NMG’s most strategic regional hubs, alongside bureaus in Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, and Eldoret. Industry insiders suggest that additional regional offices could face similar restructuring as the company intensifies cost-containment measures.
The latest development underscores the broader challenges confronting legacy media organizations across East Africa, as they navigate declining print circulation, shifting audience habits, and stiff competition from digital-first platforms.
As the year unfolds, attention will now turn to how NMG balances cost management with its longstanding reputation for journalistic excellence and nationwide news coverage.
