Dennis Okari Quits NTV

Investigative journalist Dennis Okari is the second NTV anchor in a matter of days to exit the Nation Media Group (NMG).

Insiders privy to the happenings had revealed to Viral Tea that Okari had received calls from the media house's Human Resource (HR) while he was away on holiday.

Okari on Monday evening, December 5 made the unfortunate announcement on his social media handles that his time at the TV station and at NMG had come to an end, having been there since 2015.

The former special projects and investigations editor at the media house did not however disclosed his next move, thanking his colleagues at NMG for playing a huge part in his career.

Dennis Okari posing for a photo. /FILE 

"My assignment at NTV has come to an end. I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to serve. I gave it my all, but I couldn't have done it without the help of an incredible team and an amazing audience. 

"I hope they continue to shine. It's time to move on to something bigger and greater than myself," Okari stated.

Okari has worked in various fields in broadcast journalism for the last 17 years for both local and international media organisations, namely, KBC, TBN-Family Media, Baraka FM, KTN (Standard Group), KISS TV (Radio Africa Group), BBC World Service. 

He is a certified war journalist and has covered news events from inside Somalia to terror attacks in the East African region. 

He was nominated a '2018 Goalkeeper' by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation as part of a new generation of young leaders accelerating progress toward the 'Global Goals.' 

He describes himself in his LinkedIn bio as a writer, an art enthusiatist, media strategist, a foodie and a villager who is still trying to find his way around the concrete jungle of Nairobi.

Okari's exit comes days after his seasoned colleague, Mark Masai, was fired from the station after 14 years.

Masai was replaced by Ibrahim Karanja, who made his debut during the NTV at One bulletin on Saturday, December 3, five months after he joined NMG from Standard Media Group (SMG).

Meanwhile NMG has been firing its staff en masse as part of its intention to restructure itself to boost its business transformation agenda to assure success in the long term.

"Regrettably, this refocus will result in a reorganisation of our workforce. This is an extremely difficult decision in view of the prevailing business environment. This exercise will be carried out with utmost dignity and in accordance with the Labour Laws of Kenya.

"We will strive to provide all the necessary support to help those affected to manage the transition," stated Group CEO Stephen Gitagama in part.

Reports stated that the exercise targeted veteran journalists, with senior editors among the first to be axed since the announcement.

Former NTV news anchor Mark Masai. /FILE