Former Lands Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr. Farida Karoney has landed a new role at Cape Media Limited, nearly a year after President William Ruto appointed her to a government role.
Cape Media, in a statement on Friday, July 25, said that Karoney has joined the media house as the Growth Strategy Consultant.
In her role, she will oversee policy and strategic changes geared towards making the parent company of TV47, Radio47 and TV47 Digital a digital-first media house and place it competitively in the market.
Karoney, in her acceptance speech, highlighted the need to further mould a strong Cape Media brand, as well as diversify revenue streams.
On his part, the company’s Chairperson, Prof. Simon Gicharu, lauded the appointment as one that would ensure that TV47, Radio47 and TV47 Digital sustain the growth trajectory they enjoy.
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Karoney served as the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning CS during the tenure of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, who appointed her in January 2018.
He career spans over two decades, during which she held various key positions in leading media organisations and she has been celebrated for her exceptional ability to deliver systemic change across public and private sectors in Kenya and beyond.
The former CS has been instrumental in redefining Kenya’s media landscape. She once served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Royal Media Services (RMS) from August 2014 to February 2018, where she reported directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
In this role, she was responsible for operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and the management of people systems.
She championed progressive advancements and pioneering initiatives that elevated the media house as the country’s leading broadcasting network.
Profile of Farida Karoney
Before her tenure as COO, Karoney was the Group Editorial Director at RMS, a position she held from February 2009 to August 2014.
She provided editorial leadership, setting the organization’s editorial agenda, and played a crucial role in transforming and elevating the company’s news brands to market leadership.
Her earlier roles at Standard Media Group, Nation Media Group (NMG), and Al Jazeera underscore her enduring commitment to independent journalism and future-proof media models.
At Standard, Farida served as Assistant Director of Broadcasting from August 2007 to December 2008.
She managed content, operations, and finance, and was a key advisor to the board on strategic initiatives. During that period, she also served as the Head of Editorial at KTN.
Between September 2004 and August 2006, Karoney held the position of managing Director at Standard Media Group where she was responsible for mentoring, coaching and on-the-job training for journalists.
The former CS also served as a Features Editor, Senior Reporter, Reporter, and Freelance Correspondent at KTN between 1994 and 2000.
Additionally, Karoney worked as an Associate Editor/News Editor at NMG for a period of three years from 2001.
Her extensive experience also includes a stint as a Freelance Producer for Al Jazeera English and as a Contributor for Radio France Internationale.
Often described by her mentees, students, and colleagues as a leader who “will always find a way, and if she does not, she will make a decision regardless,” she is widely respected for her decisive leadership, composure under pressure, and unwavering pursuit of excellence and fairness.
Stint at Ministry of Lands and appointment by President Ruto
Awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH), one of Kenya’s highest civilian honours, the former CS led one of the most significant land reform processes in Kenya, successfully overseeing the digitisation of land records and services for the first time in the nation’s history.
Also Read: Farida Karoney: Meet Ex-CS, Biology Teacher and Journalist Appointed by Ruto
Her tenure at the Ministry of Lands was a masterclass in bold leadership, leveraging technology to combat corruption, enhance service delivery, and establish a transparent, citizen-centric land governance system.
In August 2024, President Ruto appointed her as the chairperson of the National Lottery Board for a period of three years.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 5 (1) (a) of the National Lottery Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint FARIDA KARONEY to be a Chairperson of the National Lottery Board, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 23rd August, 2024,” read part of the gazette notice.
Karoney holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration (Strategic Management) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management, both from the University of Nairobi.
The National Lottery Board chair also earned a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the same institution.
Her academic foundation was laid at Kenyatta University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education, specialising in Botany and Zoology.
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