Veteran health journalist Leon Lidigu has left Nation Media Group (NMG) after five years of distinguished reporting, during which he built a reputation for in-depth coverage of climate, food security, global health, and Kenya’s Social Health Authority.
Lidigu’s work exposed high-profile issues, including rogue hospitals’ attempts to defraud the government of Sh10.6 billion and delays in payments to health providers.
Throughout his tenure at NMG, Lidigu earned several accolades, including awards from the International Center for Journalists in 2021 and 2022, Quill & Heritage in 2023, and the Africa Journalists Environment Awards in both 2022 and 2023.
His reporting was widely recognized for its investigative depth and contribution to public accountability in Kenya’s healthcare sector.
Speculation has emerged linking Lidigu’s departure to his exposés or recent changes in NMG’s ownership structure. However, neither Lidigu nor the media house has confirmed the reason.
The exit comes amid broader cost-cutting measures at NMG, which have reportedly affected over 100 staff members through redundancies.
Lidigu’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter in Kenyan health journalism, leaving a legacy of investigative reporting that spotlighted systemic challenges in the country’s health sector while earning both national and international recognition.
