Mediamax Network Limited the parent company of K24 TV, People Daily, Milele FM, and Kameme FM has initiated another major round of layoffs, cutting up to 90% of its newsroom staff in what marks the sixth restructuring exercise in just four years.
In an internal memo dated August 11, 2025, the company announced plans to declare a significant number of employees redundant, with the process scheduled to conclude between July 15 and August 15, 2025. The layoffs affect multiple departments, including top English and Swahili anchors, producers, and the entire sports desk.
Sources within the company reveal that the decision is part of a broad cost-cutting strategy prompted by mounting economic pressures. Mediamax cited a difficult macroeconomic environment, rapid digital disruption, reduced business volumes, and a shrinking client base as key drivers of the move. The company has also faced delayed payments from both national and county governments, dwindling advertising revenues due to state single-sourcing for media buys, and tighter restrictions on betting and gambling advertisements a once-lucrative revenue stream for Kenyan media.
The decision mirrors a broader trend in the country’s traditional media sector. Standard Media Group and Nation Media Group have both undertaken significant downsizing in recent years, reflecting the industry’s struggle to adapt to shifting audience habits, declining revenues, and stiff competition from digital platforms.
Media analysts say the cuts at Mediamax are a stark reminder of the challenges facing legacy broadcasters. Audiences are increasingly migrating to online and social media platforms, where content is on-demand, interactive, and often free. Meanwhile, advertisers are reallocating budgets to digital spaces, drawn by targeted reach and measurable returns.
For Mediamax, the restructuring is intended to streamline operations and reposition the company for a leaner, more digitally-driven future. However, the scale of the layoffs has raised concerns about the quality and diversity of journalism in Kenya, particularly as sports coverage a key audience driver faces near-total elimination from K24’s programming.
As the dust settles, the latest round of redundancies underscores the urgent need for Kenya’s media houses to reinvent themselves in an era where survival hinges not only on storytelling but also on business model innovation.
