Nation Media Group has once again hit KTN's nerve after poaching one of its dependable reporters, Ibrahim Karanja, to join the city crew as media houses flex their financial muscles.
An insider at the Standard Group intimated to Kenyans.co.ke, that Karanja is serving notice before he formally signs off on KTN News screen and joins NTV.
Karanja was the channel's correspondent based in Nakuru, where the Moi-owned media house has a bureau. He is renowned for his ability to handle different assignments including politics and crime, with his signature authoritative voice.
"Yes, this is his final week that he will be working at KTN," the source told this reporter.
Karanja had over three years of experience at the station, having joined the Standard Group in September 2018 as a reporter, based in Nyeri before being moved to Nakuru.
Owing to the move, and other exits , Kenyans.co.ke established that a mini-reshuffle within Standard Media Group was effected to allow business continuity. This, however, targetted only reporters partly for effective coverage.
Allan Ochanda was moved from Meru to Kakamega, replacing Willy Lusige who is now at Mombasa Road.
On the other hand, Kevin Ogutu, the Kisumu reporter, quit weeks ago after reportedly landing greener pastures in the neighbouring South Sudan.
Recent months have seen human capital movements across Kenya's media industry with top-tier TV stations revamping their newsrooms ahead of the August polls.
In April 2022, NTV poached Nicholas Wambua, a flawless Swahili reporter and anchor who had amassed years of experience at KTN News. At the time of Wambua's signing, NTV also on-boarded Janet Chapia, a seasoned journalist who worked for Citizen TV years back before joining KTN News in 2017 and exiting in 2020.
The Kimathi street-based station also poached Joe Ageyo from Royal Media Services (RMS) to take up the Editorial Director's role, overseeing the broadcast wing of the listed company.
Ageyo, a much-sort-after talent by media owners in the country, teamed up with Ben Kitili, a former colleague at KTN, when he served as the station's Managing Editor. Kitili doubles up as a show host and editor at the Twin Towers.
Citizen TV has also been hit by the exit wave after its sports anchor Bernard Ndong' and features reporter Raquel Muigai quit.
The Maalim Juma giant is currently scouting for Raquel's replacement, having published a vacancy advert inviting interested and qualified journalists to apply.
