Alex Chamwada Recounts Selling House, Quitting Job To Start Company 10 Years Ago

Award-winning journalist Alex Chamwada was recognised by the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) for the work and sacrifices he made in driving his own company, which he began while he was forced to sell his house.

KEG had presented Chamwada with the Pioneer/Trailblazer award on Saturday evening, December 2, coming a day after he marked 10 years since starting Chams Media despite financial woes and uncertainty.

The editors' union remarked that while the media industry is facing an existential crisis coupled with layoffs, delayed salaries and fears of shutdown increasing in frequency, Chamwada showed an example of those who abandon the comfort that comes with a salary to venture into uncharted waters in starting and running a media business.

Journalist Alex Chamwada poses with the the Pioneer/Trailblazer award he received from Kenya Editors Guild alongside KEG President Zubeidah Kananu. /ALEX CHAMWADA

"We live in fear and hopelessness. Yet we have people amongst us who stand as living examples that one can walk away from the safety and security of a well-paying job in an established media house, venture into the uncertainty and risk of media entrepreneurship," the Editors Guild revealed in a statement shared by Chamwada.

"Ten years ago, this well-known television reporter, anchor and producer quit his job, scrapped his savings together, sold his house and went into the world of independent content generation. His communication consultancy firm specializing in TV documentaries and features has since won numerous awards."

The company of which he is the Founder and Chief Executive celebrated its birthday on December 1, 2023.

Chamwada quit Citizen TV in 2014 at a time when he was at the peak of his career to start his company. He was an associate editor and senior reporter.

According to him, he felt that the stories he wanted to tell were not getting the adequate airtime he was hoping for, expressing his discontent on being censored and constricted to covering the usual content in the newsroom, including politics in the country.

His company, Chams Media, has evolved into a household name through successful shows produced such as Daring Abroad and The Chamwada Report.

It has partnered with major media houses in the country such as KTN News and NTV which acquired content from him to broadcast to the general public.