Frank Otieno Returns To Teaching Five Months After KTN Exit

Former Standard Group's seasoned journalist, Mwalimu Frank Otieno, made his return to teaching after 20 years, commencing his new journey at Daystar University on Tuesday, June 6.

Otieno took to his social media platforms sharing pictures of himself perusing through and clutching a book at the university's library with one of them showing him posed outside his car.

Otieno announced that he joined the University in its School of Communication.

Former Standard Group seasoned journalist, Frank Otieno at a library in Daystar University on June 6, 2023. /TWITTER.FRANK OTIENO

"Thank you Daystar University for the special assignment in the School of Communication, Department of Language & Performing Arts," he wrote.

The move marks a huge milestone for Otieno who returns to the teaching profession after 20 years of being a successful journalist, back to a profession he had started out in as an untrained teacher who went on to become a trained teacher from Moi University in Eldoret. 

Otieno, who was famous for his mastery of Swahili language reporting while at KTN, held an admiration for teachers while he was the Manager, Newspaper in Education, Standard Group.

"Teachers of those days were worth emulating. They were such role models you felt good when they came to your home," the former editor revealed in a past interview.

Despite having an immense admiration for teachers at such a tender age, the 45-year-old scribe also had a burning ambition to be a broadcaster and he recounted how his late mother was baffled upon discovering that he was reciting news on radio when she couldn't communicate fluently in Swahili.

Right after high school, Otieno jumped into teaching. His teaching journey took him all the way to Manga and Buturi in Tanzania. 

"I was a teacher of biology, I went there when I had sharpened by my Kiswhaili. I had an edge; for most of the learners, you had to translate to Kiswahili.

"I am also very keen on my grammar and ngeli," he added. 

Otieno, who had deferred his education to teach due to financial difficulties, rejoined the university in 2002 and left in 2006. The father of four; two adult boys and a young boy and girl, has taught at several schools among them Migori Teachers College, Kodero Bara Secondary School in Rongo, and Nyabisawa Girls High School. 

At Standard Group, he worked as a reporter, senior reporter, Bureau Chief in Kisumu, Editor-Swahili Desk and finally Manager, Newspaper in Education (NIE) program. His role as a manager for NIE involved handling the overall management of the NiE program in schools and other institutions. 

In addition, the journalist was credited with raising the bar in the education sector, primarily by coming up with the Dau la Elimu show on KTN News. 

The show brought together all education stakeholders for the past six years, giving them a platform to dissect pertinent issues touching on education from early childhood to Tertiary.

Otieno's departure in February 2023 was a headline one, coming amidst a financial crisis at Standard Group which triggered mass firings at the Mombasa Road-based media house.