In a strategic move to sanitize one of Kenya’s most feared and misunderstood professions, the Radio Africa Group has inked a landmark partnership with the National Association of Kenya Auctioneers (NAKA). The goal? To turn the gavel from a symbol of distress into a tool of economic resolution.

For decades, the image of the Kenyan auctioneer has been draped in menace: burly men in leather jackets descending on homes at dawn, enforcing court orders with ruthless efficiency. It is a reputation built on fear, often fueled by sensationalist reporting and the genuine trauma of debt recovery.

This narrative is set for a radical overhaul. In a deal announced today, media giant Radio Africa Group has committed to using its vast reach—spanning print, radio, and digital—to humanize the industry and highlight its critical role in the financial ecosystem.

The "Friendly" Auctioneer?

Speaking at a high-level executive session with NAKA leadership at a Nairobi hotel, Radio Africa Group CEO Martin Khafafa admitted to his own preconceptions. "I didn't know that auctioneers are friendly people until today," Khafafa quipped, underscoring the deep divide between public perception and professional reality. "For decades, the media industry has reported negatively about auctioneers, but this is about to change."

The partnership will see The Star newspaper dedicate two full pages weekly to the industry, providing a platform for auctioneers to explain their processes, legal mandates, and the dispute resolution mechanisms available to the public. "That's not all," Khafafa added. "We will also be dedicating all other media platforms to your members to share their stories."

The Economic Necessity of Distress

Why does this matter now? A 2025 Central Bank of Kenya report painted a stark picture: the auctioneering industry is experiencing a boom, driven primarily by a surge in non-performing loans (NPLs). As banks move to recover assets—from prime real estate in Kilimani to personal vehicles in Kiambu—the auctioneer becomes the final cog in the credit cycle.

Without an effective recovery mechanism, the lending market freezes. If banks cannot recover bad debts, they stop lending to good businesses. The auctioneer, therefore, is not a predator but a cleaner of the financial system, ensuring liquidity returns to the market.

"When you look at developed nations, this industry is a source of employment because they have invested in modern technology and better policies to streamline the sector," Khafafa noted, calling for a shift from brute force to digital transparency.

Strength in Numbers

The deal also aims to consolidate a fragmented sector. Currently, NAKA boasts 450 registered members, while the rival Kenya National Society of Professional Auctioneers has 400. NAKA National Chairman Maurice Osundwa sees this partnership as a recruitment drive as much as a PR campaign.

"The target is to have 1,000 members before the end of the year," Osundwa stated. "This collaboration will help us to reach out to others who have not yet joined Naka."

By bringing more practitioners under a regulated, professional umbrella, the industry hopes to weed out the rogue elements—the "goons" for hire—who have long tarnished the reputation of legitimate court officers.

A New Chapter

The rebranding effort is ambitious. Changing the public's emotional response to debt collection is a Herculean task. However, by shedding light on the legal frameworks and the human stories behind the gavel, Radio Africa and NAKA are betting on transparency.

In an economy where credit is the lifeblood of growth, a professional, understood, and respected auctioneering service is not just a nice-to-have; it is an economic imperative. The leather jacket may stay, but the menace, hopefully, will be replaced by professionalism.