NTV has suffered a blow following the resignation of its news anchor, Zainab Ismail, after eight years at the giant media house, owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG). Her resignation coincided with the announcement that Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Azizi has acquired the company.
Zainab made the announcement after anchoring the 9:00 PM bulletin on March 10, 2026, thanking her colleagues and loyal viewers.
“After almost eight wonderful years here at NTV, this will be my final bulletin. It has been a privilege and an honor to bring you the news. So, thank you to the incredible team in this newsroom. And most importantly, thank you to our viewers for your trust in me over the years. It’s been an honor. Goodnight, and goodbye,” she said in an emotional sign-off.
Zainab is known to viewers for her calm, confident presence on air, earning recognition for her strong storytelling and dedication to covering important topics, especially regional affairs, environmental issues, and wildlife conservation.
Her reports often focused on stories that don’t always get enough attention across Kenya and beyond.
Education Background and Family Life
Zainab studied journalism at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) based in Nairobi’s South B, from 2011 to 2014.
According to her LinkedIn profile, in 2025, she enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in International Relations and Diplomacy at Riara University.
During her studies, she gained hands‑on experience through industrial attachments, including one at Iqra FM, and she quickly stood out in competitions.
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She was also a participant in season two of KTN’s reality show “The Presenter,” where she starred in both news presenting and reporting, giving her early exposure and recognition before she even joined mainstream media.
Like many TV sirens in Kenya, she fell in love with a media personality. She is married to Ahmed Faizal, a media and communications strategist who previously worked as a business reporter at Citizen TV and K24 TV. The couple welcomed their first child around 2021.
She has also shared openly about personal hardships, especially the sudden loss of her father in 2022, which she has described as one of the hardest and most life‑changing experiences she has ever faced.
Zainab Ismail media Career and Assignments
Zainab Ismail began her mainstream media journey in March 2016 when she joined Ebru TV. There, she worked as an assignment editor, news anchor, reporter, and show host for about two years, until June 2018.
She then joined NTV in July 2018, where she quickly became one of the central faces of the English news desk. Over the years, Zainab anchored several major programs, including AM Live, NTV Today, Your World, NTV at One, Weekend Edition, Sunday prime‑time bulletin, and NTV Tonight.
Aside from anchoring, she was also a versatile, bilingual news reporter. Away from the media, Zainab is a corporate events moderator and emcee.
Earlier in her life, she was also involved in humanitarian work, having served as the youth chairperson for the Kenya Red Cross in Kajiado Branch.
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NMG Reorganization, Recent Exits, and Remaining Anchors
Zainab Ismail’s exit came at a time when Nation Media Group is undergoing restructuring.
The company has been facing financial pressure, especially from declining advertising revenue due to the shift toward digital media.
As a result, NMG, under the leadership of Geoffrey Odundo as Chief Executive Officer, who joined the listed company in March 2025, has taken several steps to cut costs and reorganize operations, including:
- Closing some of its regional newsrooms, such as the Mombasa bureau (March 2026).
- Moving more operations into remote or hybrid work setups.
- Issuing redundancy notices to contributors and correspondents.
- Other changes are aimed at supporting digital transformation.
On March 10, 2026, NMG experienced an ownership change when the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) sold its entire 54.08% stake, which it had held since 1959, to Taarifa Ltd, a company owned by Tanzanian businessman Rostam Azizi.
AKFED Director Sultan Allana stated that they are confident that NMG will continue to uphold the values of digital journalism.
“AKFED is proud of its contribution to building one of Africa’s most respected media institutions. We are confident NMG will continue to uphold the values of independent journalism and service to the public that have defined it for over six decades,” said Sultan Allana
Zainab’s Ismail departure follows several other high‑profile exits from NTV/NMG in recent years, including:
- Smriti Vidyarthi, who left in early 2025 after 16 years
- Olive Burrows, who was replaced in 2024 by Michelle Ngele
Despite the transitions, NTV still has several strong on‑air personalities, including on-air couples Fridah Mwaka and Lofty Matambo, who are loved by their fans for their chemistry and flawless Swahili.
Other Swahili anchors on NTV are Nicholas Wambua, Frederick Muitiriri, and Sycilia Wakesho.
For 9 PM, where Zainab Ismail featured the most, NTV now has Dan Mwangi, Michelle Ngele Odhiambo, James Smart, and Ben Kitili.
The Kimathi Street-based firm also has Eric Latiff, Janet Mbugua, and Mariam Bishar, who fix the nation every morning, Monday to Friday.
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Photo of NTV News Set. PHOTO/NMG
