The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) has raised concerns over the underrepresentation of women in senior editorial positions following recent changes to the editorial leadership structure at Nation Media Group (NMG).
In a statement, AMWIK acknowledged NMG’s longstanding role in shaping East Africa’s media industry and nurturing the careers of women journalists who have gone on to hold senior positions in the sector.
The association cited journalists including Pamella Sittoni, Wayua Muli, Catherine Gicheru, Dorothy Kweyu and Lucy Oriang as among the women who have broken barriers and risen to leadership positions within the media organisation.
AMWIK also commended NMG for maintaining a dedicated Gender Desk tasked with promoting coverage of issues affecting women and marginalised groups.
However, the association said it was concerned that women remain underrepresented in senior editorial decision-making roles following the latest restructuring.
“As one of the largest and most influential media houses in Kenya and East Africa, NMG’s leadership composition sets the benchmark for the broader industry,” AMWIK said.
The organisation argued that newsroom leadership composition directly affects editorial priorities, including which stories receive prominence, how issues affecting women and families are framed, and whose voices are amplified in national conversations.
AMWIK linked the concerns to findings contained in its State of Women in Media in Kenya (2026) report, which highlights persistent gender disparities in the media industry.
According to data cited by AMWIK from the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), women account for only about 22 to 23 per cent of news sources and subjects in African news media. In comparison, women are quoted as subject-matter experts only 21 per cent of the time.
The association further pointed to what it described as a significant retention challenge, noting that although women enter the journalism profession in substantial numbers, many leave newsrooms around the age of 35.
It said only 7.4 per cent of women remain in the profession beyond the age of 45, while women occupy just 3.7 per cent of Managing Editor positions nationally.
Women also account for only 2.8 per cent of media ownership positions, despite making up more than 40 per cent of the overall media workforce, according to figures cited by AMWIK.
The association said the disparity was not a result of a lack of qualified women, pointing to its capacity-building programmes, executive mentorship initiatives and other efforts aimed at preparing women media professionals for senior editorial and governance roles.
While acknowledging NMG’s autonomy as a private company, AMWIK said the media group’s size and influence give its leadership decisions wider public-interest significance.
The association is urging NMG and other media organisations across East Africa to establish deliberate leadership succession pipelines that enable qualified women to advance into senior decision-making positions.
AMWIK also called for greater attention to mid-career retention, arguing that retaining experienced female journalists is critical to addressing the decline in women’s representation at senior levels.
The association said it remains willing to work with NMG and other industry stakeholders to develop strategies and frameworks aimed at increasing and sustaining women’s representation in key editorial leadership positions.