How Alex Chamwada Trained Watchman To Be A Journalist & Hired Him

Bwabi opened up on his diligent duties as a security guard with a deep-down wish of becoming a photojournalist and videographer.

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Jul 5, 2023 - 15:31
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How Alex Chamwada Trained Watchman To Be A Journalist & Hired Him
Isaya Bwabi with Alex Chamwada. /LINKEDIN.LINDA AMIANI

Life has an interesting way of turning around fortunes, even when all hope seems lost. Even though veteran journalist Alex Chemwada became a household name through successful shows produced by Chams Media such as Daring Abroad and The Chamwada Report, he does have a Midas touch in terms of nurturing talent.

In a world rapidly shifting to digital journalism, Chamwada's media house has been at the forefront of the country's digital paradigm shift with a dedicated staff working behind the scenes to produce those informative globe-trotting documentaries you watch on YouTube and on TV.

Take for example videographer Isaya Bwabi, a Chams Media staff. On Tuesday, July 4, he narrated his little-known rise from working as a security guard at Chams Media offices to being behind the camera lens, a matter of daring to dream beyond his casual role.

Isaya Bwabi with Alex Chamwada while working on a camera. /LINKEDIN.LINDA AMIANI

As he narrated on the media house's YouTube channel, Bwabi opened up on his diligent duties as a security guard with a deep-down wish of becoming a photojournalist and videographer.

Working with Chamwada offered him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he took with both hands, given that his employer and Chamwada's production were housed into one, possessing the opportunities he was looking for.

Because of his constant travels, Bwabi had a hard time reaching out to the former KTN Editor to ask him for help in pursuing his dream, but once Chamwada was around, Bwabi took his chance.

"I used to work for a certain company as a guard which is where I met Alex Chamwada and shared my interest with him in becoming a journalist though it took time because I had to constantly remind him what I wanted to do," Bwabi said.

"Approaching Chamwada was not easy but I gathered courage and shared my dream with him."

Bwabi was determined to become a journalist but he had a problem, the school fees at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) whose amount had dwindled his confidence.

"When I told him, he was not worried about the fees.

"He took a big step and enrolled me at the Kenya Mass which is a big school the fee structure was also massive I wondered who was going to pay all that but he accepted, and he paid which left me very happy," Bwabi divulged.

Not only did Chamwada agree to support Bwabi through his education but offered him a chance to work at Chams Media, where he is at present. Bwabi is set to graduate in December 2023 with a Diploma in Journalism.

Reflecting on his journey, he offered words of encouragement to others facing similar situations, urging them not to give up and to believe in themselves. These days, he operates the camera and goes with Chamwada wherever he goes to tell the untold stories of Kenyans making it in other countries.

His colleague, Collins Ogutu, who is Chams Media's Head of Digital, praised Bwabi for his unwavering determination to get to where he is now.

"When I first met Isaya about two years ago, he was working as a determined security guard manning the main gate into our Kilimani Court 1 offices in Nairobi. He was evidently new to the job but very courteous and outgoing. We interacted a few times, and each time we spoke, his confidence amazed me. Isaya would from time to time interact with my supportive boss, Alex Chamwada, and would share his ambitions and dreams of becoming a journalist. In his own words, Isaya says it was not easy (reaching out to Alex), “but I kept trying,” he says.

"Fast forward to 2023, Isaya sits beside me in the office, as a gifted young man, meticulous in his work as a videographer and editor; this follows his training at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) and unwavering support from Alex Chamwada and the Chams Media family. His determination has paid off! Isaya is a shining example to many people, a beacon of hope for countless others. Just keep trying," Ogutu wrote on LinkedIn on Wednesday, July 5.

Isaya Bwabi posing for a photo with his trusted camera. /LINKEDIN.LINDA AMIANI

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