Eric Latiff Quits Spice FM After 6 Years, Joins Nation Media Group

UPDATE: Former Spice FM radio host Eric Latiff has joined the Nation Media Group. This was announced in a message to staff by NMG's Head of Broadcasting, Simaloi Dajom.

"I am thrilled to announce that Eric Latiff is joining Nation Media Group starting today! Latiff is a highly regarded and accomplished media personality, renowned for his creativity, passion, and stellar track record across TV, Radio, and Digital platforms. With over 27 years of experience in the media industry, Latiff brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for developing new media," she announced.

Dajom hailed Latiff's addition, which aligns perfectly with NMG's strategy to continuously innovate and elevate its broadcast offerings and underscores its commitment to creating multimedia content that its customers love. Details of Latiff's new role are however yet to be announced.

"I am confident that his inclusion will bring much-needed impact in the fast-changing media landscape. Let's extend a warm NMG welcome to Eric Latiff and support him as he settles in. Stay tuned to NTV and Nation Media Groups' digital platforms for more details," she added. 

Veteran journalist and radio host Eric Latiff announced his exit from Spice FM after six years of hosting ‘The Situation Room’, a show he helped build from scratch in 2019.

Latiff penned a heartfelt statement on his social media platforms on Monday, January 6, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Standard Group and for the support of colleagues and listeners throughout his journey.

He recounted a decision by him and his three colleagues on August 20, 2019, at 6 am to kickstart the highly popular political, governance and current affairs show just as Spice FM was being launched under the Standard Group Limited.

"At exactly 6 am on 20th August 2019, four people entered a brand new studio and started a journey along an uncharted path. When I switched on the four microphones that morning I was excited at launching yet another station, but I also had butterflies in my stomach; would this work? Would the audience embrace four hours of non-stop talk during their busy morning commute?" he wondered.

Eric Latiff and his now-former colleagues CT Muga and Ndu Okoh. /FILE

"The four of us with CT Muga, Ndu Okoh and Njeri Thorne took on the new assignment with dedication and a true belief that we could do it. Outside of that studio was our producer Brian Evusa, the Programmes Controller Brian Obara and, although he wasn’t in the studio, the Radio General Manager Tom Japanni was present."

"It has been a great journey building The Situation Room into what it has become and we have very many people to thank, not least the team of producers, marketing, commercial, technical and other colleagues," he continued.

"The biggest part of this show has been the audience who tune in on radio, TV or digital platforms. It’s humbling whenever people reach out on calls, text or approach us with compliments, comments and suggestions for the show."

"Is there room for something new? Of course, always, and I sure hope to be a part of it soon. Wish me luck, I will keep you posted," he told his followers. The Situation Room is now left in the hands of CT Muga and Ndu Okoh.

Latiff has a different background from journalism. He first trained as a Telecommunications Engineer at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) between 1995 and 1998.

He dove into media and was part of the founding team led by Rose and David Kimotho in 2006 to launch K24 which only aired news bulletins at 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 9 pm. He oversaw the station burst into life through its modular news concept that was slowly absorbed by all stations across the country.

He then joined the Standard Media Group (SMG) as KTN's prime-time news anchor in April 2006 and spent six years sub-editing news bulletins, presenting them, conducting live and recorded interviews, program design and implementation and news content production at the station.

Before he joined SMG, he was working for Capital FM as a presenter, producer, programmes manager, newsreader and editor after he joined in 2003. He was even at the station before its acquisition by Chris Kirubi in 2004.

The Mombasa road-based media house then offered him the news anchor job in 2005, which prompted him to come up with an idea very few media houses would accept; working two jobs at two media houses at once- in this case, retaining his job at Capital FM while working for KTN.

During that same year, Latiff won the English Radio News Anchor of the Year award which was organized by officials from the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ). However, like many other journalists, he turned down the prize as the competition was largely controversial, especially with claims of disregard for credibility and integrity.

He currently runs two digital agencies. They include Zeze Digital, a data-driven marketing, advertising and training agency and Zeze Tunes, a digital video content aggregator, digital rights manager and distribution firm.