In May 2017, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) revealed it would invest nearly Ksh1.04 Billion in modern multimedia production studios in Kenya.
This, in turn, meant that the media company would create about 250 job opportunities.
BBC Africa Regional Editor Solomon Mugera assured President Uhuru Kenyatta 200 of the jobs will go to Kenyans.
[caption caption="BBC head offices in London"]
[/caption]
The investment would also provide internship and mentoring programme for upcoming journalists, digital and technical producers.
The initiative was well taken by journalists and media operators but it spelt trouble for Kenyan media houses.
One year down the line, BBC has managed to poach some of the top talents groomed by Kenyan media.
KTN was first to feel the pinch this year when it lost sports reporter and anchor Lynne Wachira as well as news reporter/anchor Michelle Ngele to BBC.
The two joined former KTN sports editor Celestine Karoney at the international media house.
On March 29, NTV suffered the same blow when renowned media personality Larry Madowo quit the station.
[caption caption="Larry Madowo,Zawadi Mudibo, Charles Gitonga, Hudheifa Aden, Peter Mwangangi, Bonney Tunya"]
[/caption]
The outspoken journalist was to join BBC a few days later as the business editor for the African region.
Former K24 Swahili anchor Anne Ngugi made a comeback into the media space after landing a job at the BBC radio wing.
KBC news anchor-cum-reporter Roncliffe Oditi later joined the station in May.
In June, KTN hit back by hiring veteran radio journalist Odero Sirari from BBC as the Swahili news Editor.
In July, Citizen TV lost two reporters Mercy Kandie and Sylvia Chebet through the same antics.
Larry was later followed by former colleagues Hudheifa Aden, Mombasa-based reporter Peter Mwangangi and seasoned producer Maureen Nyukuri at the station.
In the same month, K24’s Deputy Business Editor Zawadi Mudibo and business reporter cum anchor Maya Hayakawa joined the growing list.
Former MediaMax anchor Sharon Machira and head anchor Richard Kagoe are also at the BBC newsroom.
K24 anchor Ian Wafula was accepted into the station after being rejected 4 times by the same stations.
Another K24 ‘Alfajiri’ host Ciru Muriuki has also reunited with Larry in the Business section.
The latest beneficiaries of BBC’s revamping are KTN journalist Fathiya Mohamed Nur and award-winning swimmer Jason Dunford.
However, all has not been continuously smooth at the BBC Nairobi bureau, in June staff were at arms over alleged mistreatment and harassment by Bureau Manager Pat Strong.
