Journalist and social justice advocate Janet Mbugua has officially exited Nation Media Group (NMG), ending her role as a co-host of the weekday morning current affairs programme Fixing The Nation, which airs on NTV Kenya and Nation FM.
Mbugua made the announcement during her final on‑air appearance on Friday, April 17, where she co-hosted the show alongside Eric Latiff and Mariam Bishar.
Her departure comes after slightly more than a year on the programme, according to reports by local media outlets.
The announcement was delivered during the programme’s final segment, marking her last day on the four-hour broadcast that runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on weekdays.
In a post on X, NTV wrote, “Today we say goodbye to one of our day ones. What’s your message to Janet?”
At the time of her exit, Mbugua did not give details on her next professional engagement.
Fixing The Nation is simulcast across NTV, Nation FM, and Nation Media Group’s digital platforms, a format designed to reach audiences on television, radio, and online spaces simultaneously.
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Mbugua’s Return to Mainstream Broadcast Media
Janet Mbugua joined Nation Media Group in early 2025, returning to television after an eight-year absence from the newsroom.
Her comeback was announced in January 2025 by NMG’s Head of Broadcasting, Simaloi Dajom, who said she was an experienced journalist known for connecting well with audiences on TV, radio, and digital platforms.
Mbugua became one of the hosts of Fixing The Nation when the show first aired on February 3, 2025.
The programme was created as a platform for discussing Kenya’s key issues, including governance, social justice, the economy, and accountability, bringing together investigative reporting, expert opinions, and the voices of ordinary citizens.
Janet Mbugua Career Background
Before joining NMG, Janet Mbugua was a prime-time news anchor at Citizen TV, part of Royal Media Services, where she worked for several years alongside senior journalists such as Hussein Mohamed.
Janet exited Citizen TV in 2017 and later stepped away from daily newsroom work to focus on advocacy, philanthropy, and content production.
Over the years, she has also worked with media organizations in South Africa and curated issue-based television programming, including previous projects with NTV before her break from daily broadcasting.
Beyond journalism, Janet Mbugua is the founder of the Inua Dada Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with adolescent girls in Kenya, focusing on education, dignity, reproductive health awareness, and leadership development.
The foundation has implemented programs across the country, including the launch of the Inua Dada Center in Korogocho, Nairobi.
Also Read: NMG Warns Shareholders After Tanzanian Billionaire’s Takeover
Fixing the Nation’s Place in Kenya’s Media Space
Since it went on air, Fixing The Nation has created a space for open, direct national conversations, featuring leaders from government, civil society, policy circles, and activist groups, tackling issues such as the cost of living, corruption, human rights, youth engagement, and public policy.
The show became known for its tough questions and long‑form interviews, a style that attracted attention within Kenya’s media industry.
In February Fixing The Nation was mentioned in a newly released book by communications strategist Gina Din as an example of a media platform that actively pushes for transparency and clearer communication from those in positions of leadership.
Mbugua’s presence on the panel was widely viewed as fitting naturally with the programme’s editorial approach, given her long-standing engagement in civic advocacy and public interest work.
I have followed Janet Mbugua’s media journey closely since I was a teenager, when she first appeared on screen at the Standard Media Group. Even at that early stage, I found her to be exceptionally eloquent, confident, and full of energy in her presentations, which made her stand out to me as a viewer.
Over time, I watched her grow professionally as she moved to South Africa, where she expanded her media experience and gained broader exposure. When she later returned to Kenya, she joined Royal Media Services, and by then she had established herself as one of the leading news anchors in the country, commanding a strong presence on television.
After some time, she stepped away from mainstream broadcasting, and at the time, she indicated that she wanted to focus more on her family life. I understood this as a personal decision that marked a pause in her on-air career, even as she gradually shifted toward advocacy and public engagement work.
She later made a return to television at Nation Media Group, where she co-hosted the morning show Fixing the Nation alongside Eric Latiff and Mariam Bishar. From my perspective, this was a different dynamic compared to her earlier solo dominance on the news desk, as the format required shared airtime and collaborative presentation.
While Eric Latiff brought his own strong presence and Mariam Bishar contributed actively to discussions, I sometimes felt Janet’s role was less dominant than in her earlier career. Still, she remained articulate and composed, continuing to add value to the conversations in her own way.
Overall, I see Janet Mbugua’s journey as one of evolution, moving through different stages of media work, adapting to changing environments, and balancing personal and professional priorities along the way.