KTN's Mercy Korir Quits For Another Job

KTN medical journalist, Dr Mercy Korir, has left the Standard Media Group (SMG) after five years.

The former news anchor was on Tuesday, November 15 poached by the AAR Hospital as its Business Development Manager effective immediately.

Her new role will see her bring her vast experience in the medical sector as well as communications to help shape the hospital to be one of Kenya's leading medical providers for its citizens.

"As the Hospital's Business Development Manager, Dr Korir will oversee the hospital's external communication and brand positioning, establish new business lines and new revenue streams.

"Specifically, she will be responsible for developing strategic Business Development, Public Relations, and Corporate Social Responsibility plans for the hospital to attract potential clients and retain existing ones," the statement on her appointment read in part.

Dr Korir worked in several capacities in the Health sector; as a Medical Doctor intern at the Ministry of Medical Services and as a medical doctor in Machakos County.

She then moved to work at the Nairobi Hospital in a similar capacity in 2015 before working as a medical and liaison officer in the government before breaking into the media industry in 2017 at SMG.

She was a health and medical reporter as well as an anchor for KTN News where she conducted regular special coverage on health and a weekly news feature entitled Health Digest and Your Health Budget, hosted studio discussions on health-related topics, and assisted other reporters in conceptualizing and preparing health and medical pieces.

Dr Korir then rose to a Health and Science editor at the Mombasa road-based media house, with her influence increasing the prominence of KTN News in terms of health stories.

This, therefore, means her departure adds a massive dent to the operations of the media house, which is struggling to contain rampant poaching of talent from other companies and rival media outlets.

Sources indicate that Korir left alongside two other journalists; news anchor Sharon Momanyi and seasoned Foreign Affairs editor, Lilian Odera, with the latter having founded Lisha Communications in November 2022. She was well-versed in foreign affairs content and was attached to the foreign affairs desk, the only media house in Kenya to have such an exclusive division.

Momanyi has been KTN News' Features Editor for the past couple of years.

SMG has been dealing with lots of troubles on its plate ranging from delays in salary remittances to staff to looming mass firings to hit hundreds of journalists to salvage its economic fortunes, a move Viral Tea understands could happen anytime.