Francis Gachuri, Karen Knaust: 7 Journalists Who Quit For Govt Jobs
The easiest way for a politician to put his key messages across, if not by himself in a public department, is through someone in his or her communications team...
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Landing a job within the government of any country is considered a dream come true for anyone, even a journalist, and it's not just the juicy perks that come with it.
In Kenya, it's no different. The easiest way for a politician to put his key messages across, if not by himself in a public department, is through someone in his or her communications team, which is usually spearheaded, by a journalist.
For years, some of Kenya's most popular journalists have been poached by political and government leaders to spearhead their communications offices because of their expertise and experience in the field of media and communications. As a journalist, you usually interact with different audiences and in between ruling and opposition leaders, which makes you a valuable asset in the world of politics.
Journalists also possess a broad network of contacts in the media industry which can be useful in securing favourable coverage for the leaders they work for and in building relationships with journalists and media outlets; be they mainstream or digital.
Additionally, journalists are often familiar with the latest trends and technologies in communication, including social media, digital marketing and digital journalism. This can be particularly important in today's media landscape, where the use of digital channels to communicate with the public has become increasingly important.
Following the 2022 general elections, a number of journalists have been poached by various leaders in the Kenya Kwanza government in various capacities in a bid to enhance their image during service delivery to the public.
Viral Tea takes a look at some of the biggest departures from the media to the high tables in National Governments:
Francis Gachuri
The most recent and biggest reported media departure in the country in 2023 came from the Royal Media Services (RMS) TV station, Citizen TV. Its political editor, Francis Gachuri, announced that he would leave the media house, having been there for the last 16 years.
Sources told Viral Tea that Gachuri was poached by the Ministry of Interior for a job in the communications position in President William Ruto's government.
On Wednesday, March 1, the Newsgang panellist was appointed as the new Secretary of Strategic Communications at the Ministry, headed by Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki. He will be in charge of spearheading communications at one of the most critical sectors in the entire country.
"On September 1, 2007, I joined RMS as a political reporter. 5,660 days later, I announce my exit to take up another national assignment. I am grateful and humbled by the many experiences, lessons, and opportunities I have had in the industry," he stated.
“I have called this place home, when I came here, I was a young man, who did not even have a family then. All my major milestones have happened while I was here. Now I have two families, my wife and kids and as well as the RMS family that includes my colleagues, our viewers, listeners and readers ”
His colleagues posed questions to him about his next move, but he responded with "I am not going to another media house."
Gachuri thanked the company owners, chairman SK Macharia and Vice-Chair Mrs Macharia together with the MD Wachira Waruru as well as other directors like Linus Kaikai, Fred Afune, Latifah Ngunjiri, Moses Karanja, Micheal Ngugi and Carol Wanyama for being an integral part of his career.
Kennedy Muriithi
The former NTV senior political journalist marked December 31, 2022, as his last day at the Nation Media Group (NMG). Murithi was on November 14, 2022, appointed to Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki's administration as a political advisor during Muthomi's second term in office.
In his current capacity, he is expected to provide political direction to the Governor as well as monitor political trends both in the county and in the National Government among others.
"I'll now be Muthomi Njuki's political advisor and will also deal with media relations," he announced at the time.
Murithi made a comeback in Governor Njuki's government after he served as the county's Communications Director in 2017. However, he didn't stay long and moved to NMG, the place where he started as a reporter at QTV.
At the time of his appointment, the Masinde Muliro University (MMU) graduate worked as a senior political reporter at NTV after he was promoted from QTV and had been holding the role since June 2016.
Salim Swaleh
The Former NTV Swahili managing editor cum news anchor was on Wednesday, January 11 appointed to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's media team.
Swaleh, who was previously nominated for the position of Information and Communications Technology, ICT, e-Government and Public Communication chief officer at the Nakuru County government, is now spearheading the team as the Director of Communications.
Salim Swaleh during a past NTV news bulletin.
In his new role, he is in charge of establishing and driving a multi-channel communications strategy, preparing and managing all communications material, developing a brand voice and maintaining brand integrity across all platforms.
Swaleh's name was among 21 others whose names were forwarded for vetting by the Nakuru County Assembly. However, details regarding the move from the county government under Susan Kihika to Mudavadi's office were unclear.
Karen Karimi Knaust
Karen Knaust was appointed the director of communications at the Kilifi County Government, under governor Maitha Gideon Mung'aro, on November 15, 2022, after she was poached from TV47 where she was a news presenter.
"Honoured to attend the Medical Health Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany. Our aim is to foster partnerships that will guarantee the quality of health services in Kilifi County by ensuring the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment that will provide affordable, equitable, and accessible diagnostic services to the people of Kilifi. Karen Karimi. Director, Communications. Kilifi County" she stated at the time.
Karimi made her news anchoring comeback at TV47 in March 2022 after she was fired from the Mediamax-owned TV station K24 TV. She was among the employees fired by Mediamax in June 2020 in an exercise that swept clean its entire newsroom.
During her tenure at K24, the journalist served as the host of the Evening edition as well as a feature writer of People Daily owned by Media Max.
Nicky Gitonga
The former Citizen TV reporter landed a plum job in the Kwale County government, a day after President William Ruto's inauguration on September 13, 2022.
Gitonga, who was a bilingual reporter in both English and Kiswahili at Kenya's biggest TV station, took to social media on Wednesday, September 14 to disclose details of his newfound opportunity. He is serving in the county administration as its director of communications in the office of Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani.
Gitonga began his career as a Swahili reporter at RMS eight years ago immediately after concluding his internship at the media house. He studied at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Dennis Onsarigo
The former KTN journalist was busy spearheading Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga's push for the presidency during the August 2022 electioneering period.
After his tenure as the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat press secretary, he was poached into his new role as Nyamira County Chief of Staff towards the end of October 2022 by the county governor, Amos Nyaribo.
Among the roles of a county chief of staff include managing the governor's office and coordinating the county staff.
Hussein Mohamed
The once country-famous Citizen TV anchor was a vital cog in President William Ruto's victory in the 2022 general elections. He was appointed the Head of Communications in Ruto's presidential campaign team and delivered wonders beyond expectations.
His impressive work during the campaign period made many tout him to take over from Kanze Dena as State House Spokesperson, predictions President Ruto later realised in mid-October 2022.
"Mr President William Ruto, I’m grateful and humbled by the honour you have bestowed upon me to serve as State House Spokesperson. I pledge to tirelessly work in supporting you deliver the plan to achieve greatness for our republic.
"Thanks, patriots for your congratulatory messages," he wrote on Twitter.
Hussein's office was initially likened to the Presidential Communication Service (PCS), where he served as deputy to David Mugonyi. In January 2023, he was promoted in fresh changes through the splitting of the office of State House Spokesperson from that of Head of PCS occupied by Mugonyi.
The State House Spokesperson will direct a team of communicators and researchers, as well as liaise with other arms of the government. He will also be directly answerable to the Head of State.
