The Nation Media Group (NMG) has announced the closure of its Mombasa regional newsroom, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy as the company grapples with sustained financial pressures and declining revenues.
In an internal memo to staff, the media house confirmed that effective March 2026, the Mombasa bureau will transition to a fully remote working model, with the company relinquishing its physical office space in the coastal city.
The move is part of what NMG describes as a broader restructuring strategy aimed at aligning its cost structure and infrastructure with its digital transformation ambitions.
“This is a strategic adjustment of our physical footprint and does not represent a withdrawal from regional journalism. Our editorial presence across the country remains essential to our mission to positively influence society,” the memo stated in part.
According to the communication, the closure follows similar adjustments made over the past year, including transitioning regional bureaus in Meru, Kakamega and Kisii to remote operations, reducing office space in select locations, and consolidating occupancy at Nation Centre in Nairobi.
Employees in Mombasa — including journalists, marketing staff and support personnel — have already been notified of the impending closure.
From March 1, 2026, staff will work from home, with company assets scheduled for removal shortly thereafter.
While management maintains that the move is not a retreat from regional journalism, insiders indicate that more bureaus could be reviewed as lease agreements come up for renewal, raising anxiety among staff across the country.
Financial Headwinds
NMG has faced mounting financial challenges in recent years. For the first half of 2025 ending June 30, the company reported a loss after tax ranging between Sh41.7 million and Sh56.3 million. Although this represented an 85.9 percent improvement compared to the Sh345.8 million operating loss reported in the first half of 2024, the company remains in the red.
The media house had earlier issued a profit warning in 2023, signaling persistent revenue challenges amid a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Digital Disruption
The latest restructuring is widely viewed as the first major strategic action under CEO Geoffrey Odundo. Analysts attribute the pressure on traditional media revenues to declining advertising income, as brands increasingly shift spending to global digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
Mombasa has long been one of NMG’s most prominent regional bureaus, alongside Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri and Eldoret. The decision to close its physical presence in the coastal city signals deeper structural adjustments that could reshape the company’s nationwide footprint.
With insiders suggesting additional regional closures may follow, concerns are mounting over potential staff reductions as the year progresses.
Despite the cost-cutting measures, NMG insists that safeguarding its core investment in journalism and accelerating digital growth remain central to its long-term sustainability strategy.
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