Former Nation CEOs pay tribute to the Aga Khan
From left: Former Nation Media Group CEOs Stephen Gitagama, Joe Muganda and Linus Gitahi.
Former chief executive officers of the Nation Media Group Plc mourned His Highness the Aga Khan IV as a visionary leader, a beacon of hope, and a true believer in media freedom.
Mr Linus Gitahi, Mr Stephen Gitagama and Mr Joe Muganda also honoured the humility of the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.
Mr Gitahi, who met His Highness the Aga Khan twice every year at Aiglemont, France, during his tenure as CEO, said his former boss sharpened his leadership skills.
“These encounters were not merely meetings; they were transformative experiences that shaped my understanding of leadership, civil society, and the role of the media in fostering democracy,” he said.
His Highness the Aga Khan and Linus Gitahi at a past event.
“His Highness was a beacon of wisdom and insight. Each meeting was an opportunity to engage in deep discussions about the challenges facing our society and the vital role that the media plays in addressing these issues.”
The Aga Khan, Mr Gitahi said, consistently emphasised the importance of engaging with the “intelligentsia”— the thinkers, the innovators, and the leaders who could contribute to building a better society.
“His belief in the power of informed dialogue was a guiding principle that resonated throughout our conversations.”
Describing the departed NMG founder as a staunch advocate for free speech and democratic ideals, Mr Gitahi said His Highness understood that a vibrant civil society thrives on open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
“He championed the independence of the media, urging us to uphold integrity and the truth in our reporting. Yet, he was also quick to condemn short-term, tactical approaches to media issues that could compromise these values. He encouraged us to think long-term, to prioritise quality over expediency, and to remain steadfast in our commitment to serving the public good,” he said.
“What struck me most during our discussions was his unwavering commitment to uplifting civil society. He inspired us to engage deeply with the communities we serve, to listen to their needs, and to advocate for their rights. His belief in the power of informed, engaged citizens to effect change was not just a theory; it was a call to action that he lived by every day.”
In honour of the rich legacy of Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Mr Gitahi called on Kenyans to commit themselves to the principles the Imam embodied and to the vision he so passionately pursued.
“His commitment to civil society and his fierce defense of democratic ideals will continue to inspire us in our endeavors. We must honour his memory by carrying forward his vision— by engaging with the intelligentsia, advocating for the rights of all, and striving for excellence in everything we do”.
Positive transformation
Mr Gitagama hailed the positive transformation of the society that His Highness championed across Africa, Asia and beyond.
“HH, as we commonly referred to him, was the beacon of the NMG vision as The Media of Africa for Africa. At his youthful age he founded the Nation to be the voice for the oppressed Africans, at the age of 25 years most of us were busy doing non-value adding activities but HH was such a visionary leader to think of a powerful media like NMG. He truly wanted to positively transform lives,” he said.
The former CEO also saluted his humility.
“For close to 11 years when I was the Finance Director of NMG, we met him and discussed the plans for the year. He was a humble leader and I remember one time when we held the meeting in his house, he served NMG management personally with tea.”
Cared a lot for Kenya
His Highness the Aga Khan (second right) is shown how the newspaper is produced at the Nation plant on March 17, 2016. Looking on is then Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (left) and Nation Media Group CEO Joe Muganda (right).
On his part, Mr Muganda said His Highness the Aga Khan cared a lot for Kenya and what NMG would do to help develop the country.
“I vividly remember my first corporate presentation to him. I was this typical corporate executive whose passion and drive was inclined towards growing the business at that time, when he asked me a question.
‘Joe is what you have just presented sustainable, and how does it help the country?’” he asked.
“I was taken aback because as a corporate leader you tend to focus more on the profits and losses.
However, that question by His Highness shaped how I would later view things in every organisation that I later headed and how I perceive my life”.
The NMG founder, he said, was a big advocate of press freedom in Kenya and beyond.
“He strongly believed that media freedom must exist for the political development of a country and was very particular on fairness and accuracy as some of the basic tenets of journalism,” Mr Muganda, who is also NMG board member, said.
“Because the relationship between the media and the governments in power always tended to be adversarial and in some situations extreme, all His Highness would ask was if we were fair in criticising or holding those involved to account and also if we were giving them an opportunity to be heard”.
While describing His Highness as an astute leader, the former CEO said his boss told him he started the Nation immediately after he left Harvard University, “principally to give African freedom fighters a voice”.
“The organisation never made money for almost 10 years, but he pressed on because he believed in what he was doing. He was fairly sure that the company would turn around, and it did and has been a key media house in the country today”.
Read more tributes to His Highness the Aga Khan IV below: