In a surprising development that has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan media industry, Radio Africa Group, one of the country’s leading media conglomerates, has announced an impending wave of job cuts.

The move comes as the company gears up for a leadership transition with the impending retirement of its long-serving CEO, Patrick Quarcoo, slated for July 26.

An internal memo issued to staff by the group revealed plans to streamline operations, a decision it attributes to the increasingly challenging business environment.

"The media industry has been going through tough times in the recent past. These changes have impacted our business model, necessitating unexpected shifts in strategy and structure," the memo read.

"Regrettably, this will necessitate some structural changes."

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The announcement has sparked widespread concern among employees, particularly given the company's history of staff turnover in the past two years.

Radio Africa Group is the parent company of a stable of popular media outlets including Kiss 100, Classic 105, Radio Jambo, East FM, Smooth FM, and The Star newspaper.

The impending layoffs, according to the memo, will be carried out in phases, with the company pledging to handle the process with sensitivity and in compliance with contractual obligations.

"The exercise will be carried out in batches with utmost respect to all correspondents and by the respective contractual obligations. Further communication will follow in due course," the memo stated.

Quarcoo, whose 24-year tenure at the helm of Radio Africa Group is set to conclude later this month, has been a central figure in the company's growth and success.

His departure, coupled with the job cuts, signals a new chapter for the media conglomerate as it navigates the complexities of the modern media landscape as organisations adapt to the digital age.