The newly launched Coast-based radio station, Swahilipot FM has started the ‘raid’ snatching top talents from local radio stations in the region.
The move, has already sent some struggling radio stations in the region into panic, fearing they will lose their top talented presenters to the newly station which targets the youthful generation.
The radio station wholly owned by Swahilipot Foundation which is the base of the Technology, Art and Heritage centre, Swahilipot Hub has in the recent weeks exerted alot of pressure to the already existing coastal radio stations scouting for top talents from as far as Nairobi.
Recently, KTN Swahili Editor and News Anchor Ali Manzu was spotted at the Swahilipot FM flashy studios based at the Imaara plaza within Mombasa Island, the objective of the visit remains highly confidential.
The recent victim was Mediamax Limited Company owned Msenangu FM that lost its Breakfast show Presenter, Mr Salim Barissa to Swahilipot FM.
Barissa announced that he was resigning from Msenangu FM barely three years after joining the formerly Pilipili FM.
Barissa, a multi-talented radio personality started off at a Coast based Islamic radio station, Radio Salaam as a News reporter and became an Editor and anchor some fifteen years ago, before joining Royal Media Services (RMS) owned radio station, Bahari FM that targets the Coastal community.
At Bahari FM, Barissa played equivalent roles but laced them with multi-tasking aspects where he presented various shows including Taraab music show, Sports show, Reggae music program while at the same time playing his newsroom roles and general production work, A valuable force to reckon at Swahilipot FM.
In 2021, Mr Barissa ditched Bahari FM and landed at the Mkomani based Msenangu FM, where he has hosted the breakfast show together with Medza Mwangemi.
It’s not yet clear which roles will Barissa take at Swahilipot FM but most likely he may land in the breakfast show ‘The Breakfast Club’ currently being hosted by Miriam Angil.
The station programming is almost complete with plans underway to institute a vibrant newsroom which will also shake some well performing regional radio station following the looming Swahilipot FM raid.
Two presenters from Sauti ya Pwani FM, Rajab Salim and Munga Sauti Teule have already ditched the station and joined Swahilipot FM, that broadcasts in Swahili and English languages.
Munga hosts the Swahilipot Drive show, every week day from 3pm alongside Cjay Bawazir, while Mr Rajab, a renowned Swahili poet host Saturday Swahili show, ‘Mikuki ya Maneno’