Veteran radio presenter Caroline Mutoko has left Radio Africa Group by mutual agreement with the management ahead of a planned mass layoff in September as Kenya's media industry continues to feel the pinch of declining advertising revenues.
The radio queen has been serving as the Group Marketing Manager and Kiss 100 program controller.
A source who is familiar with the restructuring at the media outlet told Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, July 7, that Mutoko has silently left the media house as part of a strategic plan to cut Radio Africa's payroll.
Radio Africa Group's Finance Director Robert Kibutiri has also been pushed out and will be leaving at the end of July, pointing to a far-reaching cost cut that will not leave the top management unscathed.
The source intimated that the limping media house is also planning to send home an unknown number of employees, mostly drawn from the editorial department, including from the Star, even after sending home around 40 employees recently.
"For now those two have left, but a few months ago due to redundancy, around 40 employees were let go," the source revealed.
The planned mass layoff in September will leave the newsroom with little talent as Kenyan media houses continue to bleed audiences and advertising revenues which is the industry's mainstay.
Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke to get a response from Caroline Mutoko and Patrick Quarcoo, Radio Africa Group CEO, were futile as the duo did not respond to calls or texts.
Nation Media Group, the largest outlet in the region, also recently sent home journalists as it struggles to transform into a digital publisher.
The move affected mostly revise editors, reporters, online video producers, and magazine editors who were termed redundant.
Standard Media Group, which has been struggling to pay salaries since last year, also sent home top talent in a bid to trim its workforce.
Top journalists who were affected include Hassan Mwana wa Ali, Ted Malanda, Jacob Ayoo, and Mercy Korir, among others.
Mutoko worked as a radio presenter at Capital FM for four years before moving to Kiss FM where she dominated the airwaves for 14 years.
