Radio Africa Lays Off 27 Employees in Major Restructuring Move

In a significant corporate restructuring, Radio Africa Limited has let go of 27 employees, some of whom had been with the company for over two decades.

The announcement came through an internal memorandum issued on April 25, 2025, by Group CEO Martin Khafafa.

According to the memo seen by Kenya Insights, the decision was described as “incredibly difficult” but necessary to “ensure the sustainability of our business while facing rising operational costs in a harsh economic climate.”

The layoffs come amid challenging economic conditions affecting media houses across East Africa, with many organizations struggling to maintain profitability as advertising revenues decline and operational costs increase.

“I understand that the current mood is heavy, and I fully recognize the uncertainty this may have caused,” Khafafa stated in the memo addressed to all staff.

“This restructuring is intended to stabilize our operations and position the company for future growth.”

The CEO emphasized that the company’s priority now is to support remaining employees while continuing to deliver the value and experience that clients expect.

He also outlined his commitment to transparency and stability as the organization transforms “into a leading audiovisual business.”

The fresh wave of layoffs comes just weeks after shutting down its television division.

Radio Africa Limited, which operates several media outlets across Kenya including, Classic FM, Kiss 100, Radio Jambo, East FM, Gukena FM, The Star newspaper, and Mpasho has been working to diversify its business model in recent years, with a growing focus on digital and audiovisual content as traditional radio listenership patterns evolve.

The layoffs represent a significant portion of the company’s workforce and signal what may be a broader trend of consolidation in Kenya’s competitive media landscape.