NMG's golden jubilee kicks off
The celebrations to mark Nation Media Group’s 50th anniversary kicked off in style at the Kenyatta International Conference Center with the airing of a documentary that traced the group’s journey since it hit the market in 1960.
To mark the Golden Jubilee, NMG is hosting a two day Pan African Media Conference at KICC, Nairobi, in collaboration with African Media Initiative.
The documentary aired at the jubilee's formal opening showed and quoted key personalities involved in NMG’s growth, its major headlines and challenges it faced in the past regimes.
NMG chairman Wilfred Kiboro said at pre-independence and early 60s newspapers were seen to articulate the views and wishes of colonial settlers.
Kenyan voices however started to emerge with the likes of former Trade unionist and veteran politician Tom Mboya. Keeping with new tempo further presented newspapers with problems.
His Highness the Aga Khan move to take over then little known Taifa Leo, which was first published in 1958, presented a major milestone in media industry.
Although Africans first started as translators in the Nation, they slowly took key positions as the newspaper grew.
The production of the documentary was directed by award-winning movie maker Judy Kibinge.
Among the Nation’s major headlines were its publication on Kenya’s independence, the assassination of Tom Mboya, Nyandarua North politician JM Kariuki , founding President Jomo Kenyatta’s death in 1978 and President Moi’s ascend to power.
After cutting a niche in local market, the Nation also got readership across Kenya’s borders.
Columnist Onyango Obbo said the paper enjoyed high circulation in Uganda.
The documentary further showed how Nation’s switch to state of art equipment enabled it to publish colour photographs among other things.
The documentary will be aired on NTV at a date to be announced.
Columnist Philip Ochieng talked of how the Nation reported JM’s murder by first assuring readers he was alive only for his body to be later recovered at Ngong Forest.
Former NGM editorial director Wangethi Mwangi spoke of the Nation’s road to ensure integrity by being the first in the region to establish an editorial policy and media guideline.
Guests at the fete, being held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, started thronging in as early as 7 am.
On arrival, chief guest President Kibaki Kibaki, together with other dignitaries including Rwandese President Paul Kagame, former presidents Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania) and Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), were conducted through a photo gallery of historic moments captured by Nation photographers over the years by the Group Editorial Director Joseph Odindo.
Others in attendance are Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
