Inside Governor Abdulswamad's Little-Known Media Career Before Politics

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir had a media career composed of owning a radio station, something most Kenyans know little of.

Speaking during the World Radio Day celebration with the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) at Mombasa County on Monday, February 13 where he was a guest speaker, Nassir recounted beginning in production at a radio station before venturing into being a radio presenter.

After amassing experience as a radio journalist, he started Radio Rahma, his very own radio station, where he managed its affairs and also worked as a presenter.

Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir during the celebration of World Radio Day at Mombasa county on February 13, 2023. /TWITTER.MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

"I worked at Pulse FM, where I began in the production department to radio presentation then went to marketing. I later started my own radio station - Radio Rahma- where I was a presenter and the manager," he announced.

However, Nassir was thrust into the political world, which made him strained, given that he had to sell his political image while managing the radio station at the same time, and eventually was forced to give up managerial duties.

The Mombasa county boss did not rule out returning to the media in the event he backs away from politics.

"I had to give out my rights of managing radio after getting into politics. If there is something I want to do after my life in politics is get back into media.

"I previously worked with KTN presenter Ali Manzu, BBC journalist Roncliffe Odit, ex-BBC editor Joseph Odhiambo and Amina who ended up with the Voice of America," he went on.

Nassir further revisited the days when he ventured into community radio while on Parliamentary duties at Mvita constituency. While launching the station, he encountered concerns from some of his close friends who had wondered why he was getting into radio with so much determination.

He nonetheless attributed his move to changing times in the media, which he believed had a great future.

"When I was a Member of Parliament, in what I saw as a power of radio, I started a community radio and we were the first constituency-funded community radio which we handed over to Kenya national course polytechnic, we called it Mvita FM. One day we will have Mombasa FM.

"When I was launching Mvita FM, a lot of people asked me why I did so but I wanted to append my signature that at no given time any politician should lay claim that they were part of starting that radio station," he noted.

He called on all the journalists in the country to stick to the code of ethics, conduct, and practice of journalism.

"As we are celebrating World Radio Day, am hoping that we will work together to build on local content and show our talent and nurture the young talents," the governor indicated.

In the National Assembly, he served in the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade as well as Public Investments Committee.

His father, Shariff Nassir, was once a powerful Cabinet Minister in the government of Kenya's second President, the late Daniel Torotich Arap Moi.