KTN's Duncan Khaemba Joins NTV

An image of empty NTV studios taken in October 2017
NTV studios at Twin Towers along Kimathi Street in a photo dated October 2017.
Photo
NMG

Nation Media Group has poached another seasoned KTN journalist, Duncan Khaemba, in a bid to bolster its manpower during the political season.

An insider at the Standard Group on Monday, July 25, revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that Khaemba had already served his notice before he formally signs off as a political reporter from the Mombasa road-based station. 

The source also intimated that the bilingual journalist was seen moving up and down as part of the clearance process and that Tuesday, July 26 was to be his last day.

An image of KTN's Senior Political reporter Duncan Khaemba.
An image of KTN's Senior Political reporter Duncan Khaemba.
The Standard

"We have lost a talent. Very few people match Khaemba when it comes to political reporting. I don't know how the station will recover," stated a source at the Standard Group that sought anonymity.

The Rise of Duncan Khaemba

Khaemba has amassed over 15 years in the media industry- earning his strides at Citizen TV and Media Max's K24 before joining KTN in 2016. 

The reporter, a University of Nairobi (UoN) alumnus, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Sociology and political science. 

The son of Kitale also holds a Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations from the Technical University of Kenya and a certificate in Broadcast Journalism from Radio Netherlands Training centre.

Some of the major assignments that shaped Khaemba's career include the 2011 coverage of the military on the frontline in Somalia and covering the 2012 Somalia presidential election in Mogadishu - it was the first democratic poll since the ouster of President Siad Barre in 1991.

Further, Khaemba covered the trial of Deputy President William Ruto at the Hague, the Netherlands which began in September 2013.

Khaemba has also faced many challenges in his line of duty with his most notable predicament involving his arrest by the military for covering the developing story after the Independent and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared President Uhuru Kenyatta the winner at night in 2017. 

Despite the challenges, the pressman won many accolades including the 1st Kara-Cofek Annual Media Excellence Award in 2011, MCK AJEA winner Business Reporting Award in 2016, MCK AJEA winner Sports Reporting award in 2019 and MCK AJEA winner Development Reporting Award in 2022. 

Mass Exodus

Sources at the station revealed that the top management at the listed giant was under pressure to contain ongoing talent haemorrhage. They noted that most desks at the station were either limping in terms of capacity or had completely been ravaged by the competition.

The company did away with its investigative desk, which previously gave KTN the edge as the country's bold and authoritative outlet. The unprecedented move saw Brian Obuya join NTV, Franklin Wallah switched to K24 while Siraj Abdulraham was reported to have quit the media industry.

The business desk was also not spared as both Brian George Otieno and Brenda Kerubo announced their exits. Brian George and Khaemba are set to join the Kimathi Street-based media house.

Those still serving at KTN's political desk include Murimi Mwangi, Chris Thairu and Jeff Kirui. The station's former senior political editor, Ben Kitili, also jumped ship to Nation, in July 2021.

Patrick Amimo, a veteran journalist, with institutional memory, left the crucial political desk after he was appointed Standard Group's bureau chief for Mombasa.

Kenyans.co.ke further understands that KTN News' health desk, manned by one Dr Mercy Korir, is a shell of its former self. The desk was dealt a huge blow after its reporters were reassigned in a recent mini-reshuffle.

Beldeen Waliaula is now a current affairs reporter, mostly roving within the CBD and operating from I&M while Saada Hassan was deployed to Mombasa as a general reporter. Those who understand how the health desk at Standard Group operates intimated to this reporter that, it urgently needs resuscitation before it goes under.

Picking the Best

The sustained onslaught by NTV on KTN, a mission currently commandeered by Joe Ageyo, has been on for months, running into a year. Before Ageyo was plucked from Citizen TV, NTV had already marked KTN as a fertile ground for poaching talent.

Apart from Kitili and Brian George, NTV also signed Lofty Matambo, Fridah Mwaka, Nicholas Wambua, Brian Obuya, and recently Ibrahim Karanja, all from KTN in a span of months.

Standard Group headquarters along Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Standard Group headquarters along Mombasa Road, Nairobi
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke
  • .