Sales Rep to Media Boss: Jamila Mohamed's Rise to The Top

For Citizen TV Managing Editor Jamila Mohamed, hers was a story of humble beginnings to become one of the best journalists in Kenya.

Speaking during a 2018 interview on Horizon TV, the accomplished journalist explained that media wasn't really a career aspect for her after high school.

"I completed the computer courses and one day I heard an advert that an Islamic station - IQRA FM - was looking for a presenter. I applied and though I didn't have qualifications, I was encouraged to go for the interviews," she stated during the Meet & Greet with Aisha Khan segment.

Citizen TV's Jamila Mohamed

When she went for the interview, Jamila was offered the position of a sales representative, "I was willing to try out anything, so I agreed," she added.

The award-winning journalist then discovered she wasn't performing well as a sales representative.

One day, the person who was supposed to read the news did not show up and the station manager picked her as a temporary replacement but she gave it her best shot.

"The station manager saw some potential in me and I started doing bulletins," she narrated.

From IQRA FM, Jamilla explained that she went for interviews at Nation Media Group after a vacancy arose for a Swahili reporter.

At the station, she was worried about having to read the news without the hijab. Fortunately she didn't have to compromise on her dressing.

Linus Kaikai, Jamila Mohammed and Joe Ageyo

Jamila was asked to read the 7 pm news by the station manager and she had to step up and take up the challenge. 

At NTV, she served as a news editor/ anchor before being promoted to managing editor at QTV.  She worked at NMG for 16 years before she moved to Royal Media Services in 2018 as managing editor of the Swahili division.

She credited other journalists including Lulu Hassan, Zeinab Wandati and Mwanahamisi Hamadi who were an inspiration to her.

Here is the video courtesy of Horizon TV: