The three main objectives of the
media still remain informing, educating and entertaining. Many atimes these
functions are performed under the harshest conditions particularly objective
number one of informing the public which involves a lot of risks on one’s life.
And just like one renowned scholar indicated, ‘Journalism is about publishing
what others don’t want published everything else is public relations’
Scribes across the world are feared
and loved in equal measures because of their aggressiveness to approach matters
of national interests, how they interrogate issues and influence policies on
behalf of the citizenry and worse or better off their ability to unearth some
of the best kept secrets or scandals.
In the course of performing these
duties they put their lives on the line risking every other moment of it and i
cannot exactly quantify the high risks and challenges in involved in the
execution of these duties because it is quite enormous.
Despite pulling such deadly strings
the remuneration package of scribes particularly in Kenya and in Eastern Africa
hasn’t been commensurate to the kind of job they do thus some cautious parents
have always thought otherwise into allowing their children to join this noble
profession.
In some extreme cases with particular
media houses it is worse and the employees are not paid in time thus they are
forced to survive on handouts from politicians and other well wishers.
With all these glaring day to day
challenges many aggressive journalists in Kisumu have defied all odds and
ventured into other businesses to supplement their earnings thus immensely
changing their lives and are now able to undertake the most important thing,
marry settle down and raise families.
And for the first time here you will
be surprised to find out that these gentlemen who you meet daily on the streets
of kisumu with cameras, notebooks and recorders are actually adorable fathers
to some of the most beautiful kids in Kisumu.
1. Allan James Obiero.
A senior journalist with a wealth of
experience in broadcast journalism spanning to 8 years now.
He plies his trade at Radio Nam Lolwe
where he is the head of field
correspondents. Allan is also the spokesperson of Kisumu Journalists’
network. He has a big constituency of friends and news
sources. Besides his job the man from Bondo Sinapanga
loves football, a big fan of Arsenal and also loves
to go to the gym, despite his big and intimidating body mass,
his close friend and colleague Ojwang Joe dismisses him as a coward
or rather loves to play safe and avoids controversies. Allan James
is married and a father of two handsome boys Evan and Jayden.
2. Dickson Odhiambo.
An experienced writer with close to
10 years experience, Dickson has a bias for health
stories, some of his best works can be traced down to the successful
medical male circumcision.
He currently writes for an online
outlet ‘HiviSasa’. He has previously worked for the People
Daily. Dickson is the chairman of Kisumu Journalists Network. He is
married and a father of 3
gorgeous little boys.
3. Joseph Ojwang Ogoch.
He is the regional bureau chief of
98.4 Capital fm, he also correspondents for Radio Lake
Victoria. He is rather laid back and reserved, keeps a few friends but a darling to all
kisumu journalists. He has built a big
network of news sources because of his honesty and trust. He has 10
years experience in both print and broadcast. You will see very
little of him online apart from Capital
fm tweets where he is tagged. He is a
great fan of Manchester United. Joe is married and has two beautiful
girls Nicole and Abigail
4. Daniel Ominde.
The editorial and content director at
Urban radio, has a vast wealth of experience in social media engagement,
runs a number of blogs and he is also a
motivational speaker using the platform to
sharpen the skills of journalism
students from various institutions. He is widely travelled, loves to
party though has since quit the bottle. Ominde has never shied away from
expressing his satisfaction to the Ranguma Tena Initiative. He is married
with a very beautiful baby girl Nadia.
5. Festus Amimo.
The controversial Radio host at the
State own media Mayienga fm. The man from Awasi border has rubbed
the wrong way powerful political individuals with his
straight talk on radio and tackling matters that affect the day to day lives of
his listeners. He continues to put leaders on the spot on matters
devolution, good governance and proper utilization of public
resources. His aggressiveness to take matters head on has earned him the bad boy
tag. Amimo is married with 2 kids a boy and a girl.
6. Agwenyi Gichana.
He is the Nyanza bureau chief for
Radio Africa group that owns the Star Newspaper, he previously
worked with Standard where he brought in a wealth of experience
in Sports and politics. Agwenyi is a proud Kisii brother who
loves his rural environment. He has always maintained that he is
the next MP for his constituency. He is widely travelled owing to his
work. He is married with one
lovely baby girl named after his
football club Chelsea.
7. John Ouko Riaga.
Though not a practicing journalist
now, he has always maintained that his pen has not retired thus once in
awhile has contributed articles to various outlets including this blog. He was
one of the very first Journalists to work for Royal Media Services (Ramogi) in
Kisumu before joining the Centre for Disease and Control CDC as a communications
officer. He is currently working as a
Unit manager at the CIC Insurance
Company. He is under intense pressure from his villagemates in Wang Chieng ward
to represent them at the Homabay County Assembly come the next general
elections. He is married with 2 adorable girls
Joy and Lynne.
8. John Oywa.
The current bureau chief of the Standard
media group in Nyanza. Johnie as he is popularly known among
his colleagues has close to 20 years of experience in print
media. He is a senior political
writer who has penned award winning
stories and covered the most powerful individual in the World
US President Barrack Obama. He recently resigned from his
position as director of communications office of the Governor Homabay County
to make a comeback to the mainstream media. As we head to the
next general elections in under 12 months, the man from Sikri Oyugis
is expected to influence voters into making right political choices
through his articles. Johnie is married with 3 loving children.
9. Ouko Okusah.
The Western Kenya NTV reporter with
close to 15 years experience in broadcast journalism. Started off as
a cameraman but has worked extremely hard to be where he is now. He is a
staunch Adventist, does not drink nor party. The man from Gwassi Homabay County
loves good stuff, his sense and taste for fashion is quit noticeable through
his dressing. Okusah is photogenic and most of his updates on facebook clearly
outlines his acute taste for unique attires. He loves to exercise, and a fact that he is close
to his white pet is no secret. Though very little is known about his family but ladies be warned
Okusah is married with one beautiful baby girl.
10. Dickens Wasonga.
A senior investigative journalist with
the weekly Citizen. The gentleman from Siaya County is
literally feared by news sources because of his aggressiveness to
confront matters of public interest. He has unearthed some of the deadliest
scandals not just at the County but also in National government. He
lost his job at the Standard group after he took head on former Information
minister Raphael Tuju on corruption cases at his ministry. He has his money and
on several occasions made it clear that he can never be easily bought to kill a
story. Despite all these work related characters, Wasonga is a gentleman who is social
and friendly, loves to enjoy his drink with friends. He is married with two
adorable kids, a boy and girl.
