Lindah Oguttu On Reports Of Working In Mjengo After KTN Exit

Celebrated TV journalist Lindah Oguttu on Wednesday, May 25 urged her followers to desist from disturbing her with questions seeking clarity on reportedly working in the construction industry, locally referred to mjengo.

The mother of one was first alerted on Friday, May 19 over online reports that seemed to have suggested that her career took a steep nosedive especially, after completing her tour of duty at the Ministry of Sports.

The former KTN News anchor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federation of Kenya Football's Caretaker Committee urged her followers to treat the reports as false.

"The picture doing rounds was me at Mwache dam, barely a few weeks before the President went there for a groundbreaking. I was consulting on the project," Oguttu, who currently works as a Digital Media and Communication Strategist, had dismissed the allegations.

Lindah Oguttu who was part of the Football Kenya Federation Caretaker Committee speaks to the press in March 2021. /FILE

The reports had claimed, without evidence, that the former Nation Media Group, Standard Group PLC and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) journalist had resorted to menial duties after missing out on government appointments.

"It's a picture that I posted that someone took out of context for clickbait," she clarified, noting that there is nothing wrong with construction works (mjengo). 

She further revealed that the reports were tailored to attract attention from social media users, increasing the numbers for the online platform peddling the reports, as they often consume digital news content.

"People, stop sending me this story. I have hawked things in this town. 1st salary was Ksh4,000, living in Gachie. Najua kuhustle (I know how to hustle).

"Assume I work in a mjengo, shida iko wapi? (Where is the problem?) As long as we put food on the table. The best part is eating fresh food from kibandaski. Mjengo pia ni kazi tusitishwe! (Construction work is also work, we should not be intimidated)" she stated.

Oguttu explained that she is doing well in her life, and doing her consultancy work despite missing out on an appointment for the position of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS).

On Monday, February 20, she made the 224-man shortlist for the CAS position and asked Kenyans to pray for her, noting that she relies on her faith as a great inspiration for her vision and ambitions.

She however missed out on the final picks alongside big names such as Cleophas Malalah who was later picked as UDA Secretary General, former Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirici and ex-footballer Macdonald Mariga Wanyama. 

Oguttu left KTN after she landed a job as the head of the secretariat of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). She was part of the transition committee named by Former Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amina Mohamed in 2022.

However, their mandate ended after the suspended FKF under President Nick Mwendwa was reinstated by CS Ababu Namwamba.

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federation of Kenya Football's Caretaker Committee and Journalist Lindah Oguttu. /LINDAH OGUTTU