Radio presenter Esther Mwende Macharia has landed a new job at Radio Jambo, marking a fresh start after leaving Radio Maisha, a station owned by Standard Media Group, where she worked for 14 years.
Popularly known as the Queen of the Airwaves, Mwende announced her move on social media on Saturday, unveiling her new home at Radio Africa Limited.
“Jambo, Queen nimefika Radio Jambo. Sema Jambo!” she said in her announcement, adding that her new show, Mwende Macharia Night, will premiere on Monday.
While bidding farewell to her long-time employer, Mwende expressed gratitude to the Standard Group management and her fans.
“I hereby wish to announce my departure from Radio Maisha and Standard Group at large effective immediately. I would like to thank the Standard Group management for the opportunity to grow my career as well as my brand for the last 14 years. Most importantly, I would like to extend my gratitude to my fans all over the country and beyond for holding down the Queen,” she said.
Mwende’s exit comes at a time when Standard Media Group is facing turbulent times. The company, which recently marked Radio Maisha’s 14th anniversary, has been grappling with major operational and financial challenges.
Meanwhile, Radio Africa Limited — the parent company of Radio Jambo — is also undergoing a restructuring process aimed at stabilizing its operations.
In an internal memo, Group CEO Martin Khafafa acknowledged the efforts of employees who accepted voluntary pay cuts, assuring them that the company will strive to restore the reductions as soon as possible.
“As you may be aware, the challenges faced by the media industry necessitated various measures to stabilize the business, including but not limited to voluntary pay cuts. The company acknowledges the sacrifice made by the staff who agreed to the voluntary pay cut, and we assure you that every effort will be made to restitute the cut within the shortest time possible,” the memo read in part.
Khafafa further noted that the next phase of the turnaround strategy will involve aligning various business operations, a move that could lead to further restructuring.
This comes months after Radio Africa Group Limited announced the layoff of 27 employees on April 25 as part of a major internal restructuring plan.
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