Nation Media Group Head of Legal, Sekou Owino, was recently recognized in the inaugural GC Powerlist East Africa 2024. The list is a publication designed to highlight the most influential and innovative general counsel in the market. This commendation is testament to the strides he has made in advancing legal excellence in East Africa and the continent at large.

Here is a highlight from his interview with the GC Powerlist East Africa team;

Major legal advisers/external counsel: Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (Dentons)

What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The most significant undertaking was the Share Buyback undertaken by NMG in the years 2021 and 2023. The first one was the inaugural share buyback ever undertaken by a listed company within the Bourses in Nairobi, Dar-Es-Salaam and Uganda.

Which recent political, economic or regulatory changes have impacted your work the most in recent years?

The directive by the Government of Kenya for Government Ministries Departments and parastatals to restrict their advertisements to single-sourced newspaper and to the State Broadcaster for Television advertisements was the single change that had significant impact within the multi-media sector in Kenya.

Are there any causes, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about the need to advance freedoms generally and media freedom and freedom of information. This is made out for me by the fact that I share the belief of the Nation Media Group that the development of an informed perspective enables individual citizens and communities to achieve their highest potential.