The game of musical chairs between the two most popular Kikuyu radio stations, Kameme FM and Inooro FM, seems to have once again hit the road.
Exclusive reports reaching Hivisasa indicate that the entire Kameme FM breakfast (Arahuka) crew is headed to Inooro FM.
The 'Arahuka' crew is made up of seasoned presenter Gatonye Wa Mbugua, witty comedian Muthee Kiengei Wa Watoria and longtime Arahuka producer Lydia Waithira.
Kameme FM on the other hand according to our highly placed source who sought for anonymity, has hit back by poaching the Inooro FM drive show (Cuacua) duo that consists of Man Simo and Katta.
The source indicates that the Kameme FM trio will be filling in the gap left behind by Man Simo and Katta although the Royal Media Services top management is still considering whether to have them do Inooro FM breakfast show 'Hagaria' currently being steered by Jeff Kuria and Nyoxx Wa Katta (Katta's wife), who was recently poached from KBC's Coro FM.
Inooro FM's breakfast show has been struggling for some time now lagging behind Kameme FM's 'Arahuka' in terms of ratings since the departure of Waithira Muithirania who ventured into politics ahead of 2017 General elections.
Our source, therefore, notes that it may not be a surprise if the RMS management finally decides to capitalize on Gatonye's and Kiengei's high morning ratings to reignite the dying embers of Inooro FM's breakfast show.
"The Kameme FM breakfast crew last Friday had a meeting with Royal Media Services top management and the station's head at Sankara Hotel where they were offered an irresistible deal. I do not see them turning it down. They are on their way to Communication Centre (RMS Headquarters) from DSM Place (Mediamax HQs)," the highly placed source told Hivisasa on Tuesday.
However, according to the source, this shuffling of presenters between the two Kikuyu radio giants is not just about looking to win more eardrums on their respective sides.
The source reveals that the so-called 'Tangatanga' and 'Kitaeleweka' politics which has divided the ruling Jubilee party right at the centre, could also be at play in the whole game as both stations position and realign themselves ahead of the 2022 gruelling President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession battle.
"Some of these presenters are finding themselves at pains in trying to exercise their on-air independence as the two opposing camps (Kitaeleweka & Tangatanga) want them to drive their respective agendas.
"As a result, they feel that their credibility may be at stake as they are constantly pushed hard by powerful forces from either camp to dance to their tunes," the source adds.
While Team Tangatanga supports DP Ruto's 2022 presidential bid, the Kitaeleweka faction has been pulling in the opposite direction arguing that Mt Kenya region voters owe DP Ruto nothing.
Kameme FM is owned by Mediamax Network Limited which is associated with President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and some wealthy tycoons from Central Kenya.
Last year Ruto is reported to have acquired a controlling stake at Mediamax which is estimated at 60 per cent.
One can, therefore, rightly deduce that the stations under the Mediamax stable which include Kameme FM, Milele FM, Meru FM, Maiyan FM, Emoo FM, PD newspaper, K24 TV and Kameme TV will likely push for Ruto's 2022 presidential bid agenda as time moves on.
On the other hand, Inooro FM under the Royal Media Services umbrella is owned by billionaire media mogul SK. Macharia.
Macharia in 2013 openly supported the now-defunct CORD coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga where he ordered his entire media empire to tow his line.
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