President William Ruto has appointed former Nation Media Group (NMG) Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi to be the Chairman of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Board for a period of three years.
In a gazette notice published on January 19, 2024, Mshindi was appointed to serve as the Chairman of KBC for a period of three years, revoking the appointment of Eng Benjamin Maingi.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporation Act and section 4 (1) (a) of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces appoint Tom Mshindi Nyamancha to the Chairperson of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Board, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the January 19, 2024,” the notice read.
A veteran manager and journalist, Mshindi has served in the media industry across Eastern Africa and beyond.
NMG Legacy
Mshindi, who is currently a consulting editor and writer for Tom Mshindi Consulting, rose through the ranks at Nation Media group’s newsroom.
He would go on to rise and become the company’s Managing Editor of the Daily Nation.
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The veteran journalist is also the former Executive Director and Group Editor-in-Chief of NMG.
Previously, he was the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of NMG’s Ugandan subsidiary Monitor Publications.
Tom left NMG in December 2018 after 24 years of service at the media house.
Mshindi has also previously worked as a Lead Consultant in Media and Journalism at Peterson Communications Limited.
Tom has also served as the group CEO of Standard Group from 2003 to 2006, also serving twice as the Vice Chair of the Media Owners Association in Kenya.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi.
Additionally, he also holds two AMP certificates from Strathmore Business School and IESE in New York.
In his long career in media and communication, Mshindi has also worked at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
He held the position of communications manager and editor at UNICEF, serving in West Africa and New York.
KBC Changes
The appointment comes following a major revamp at the company in December 2023, which saw Paul Macharia appointed as the acting Managing Director.
Macharia was appointed to replace Samuel Maina who was suspended with immediate effect.
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Macharia currently serves as the Communication Economic Expert at the National Communications Secretariat which falls under the Digital Economy.
Maina was suspended by the Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo in a letter dated the 19th of December 2023.
The letter was addressed to the then Chairman of the Board Eng. Benjamin Maingi.
Macharia was appointed to act for a period of 6 months until a new Managing Director is appointed.
Maina had been the KBC Editor-In-Chief, was suspended having acted as the Managing Director for 21 months from March 2022.
