5 Foreign Journalists Who Made it Big in Kenyan Media  

Homeboyz Radio host, G-Money, Joy Doreen Biira and Gaetano Kagwa.
Homeboyz Radio host, G-Money, Joy Doreen Biira and Gaetano Kagwa.
Kenyans.co.ke

Nairobi emerged the best city to work in Africa and the 12th best globally in a ranking by Expat City in 2021.

Already a regional force to reckon with, Kenya's capital has attracted expatriates including journalists and media personalities.

Kenyans.co.ke has taken a look at some of the foreign journalists who have made it big in the Kenyan media industry:

Homeboyz Radio host, G-Money.
Homeboyz Radio host, G-Money.
Conrad Gray

G-Money

Born Conrad Gray, G-Money is among the biggest names in radio. The Jamaican hosts the G-Money in The Morning Show on Homeboyz Radio.

G-Money was born in London, the United Kingdom (UK). He schooled in London and Jamaica, a fete that gave him exposure to different kinds of music including reggae.

"I hatted reggae music before I went to Jamaica," he stated in a past interview.

G-Money boasts of an illustrious career in radio spanning 20 years. His passion for radio led him to establish Bassline FM in London as a teenager, after being turned down by several employers.

In 2002, he was hired by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) when it launched 1 Xtra, a network exclusively for Black Music.

G-Money became popular, with his versatility attracting employers. On March 29, 2021, he was announced as the new show host, following the suspension of the Lift-Off Breakfast Show hosted by Shaffie Weru.

Cartoonist Godfrey Mwapemba (Gado) giving a speech.
Cartoonist Godfrey Mwapemba (Gado) giving a speech.
Twitter

Godfrey Mwapembwa 

Modern-day print journalism has incorporated the use of graphics including cartoons and caricature to represent information.

Godfrey Mwapembwa is among Kenya's most sought-after cartoonist. Popularly known as Gado, the cartoonist, who works with the Standard, uses his artistic side to present a wide range of topics in the country.

He co-founded Nairobi-based Buni Media,  where he serves as the Executive Chairman. Gado is also the brains behind the XYZ Show.

However, some of his representations rubbed the country's high and mighty the wrong way. A cartoon he published illustrating President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, with dangling balls, representing the case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) did not sit well with the president.

While working for the East African, the media house was shut down by then Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete. Gado published a cartoon of the president, naked, eating grapes from seven well-endowed women.

The cartoonist has won several awards including, the 2005 and 2007 Kenya National Human Rights Commission Awards in Journalism, the 2007 Prince Claus Laureate and the Cartoon for Peace Award.

Former KTN News anchor Joy Doreen Biira
Former KTN News anchor Joy Doreen Biira.
Twitter

Joy Doreen Biira

Joy Doreen Biira is a journalist, communicator, moderator, speaker and content creator.

Biira was born and raised in Kasese, Western Uganda. Unknown to many, she is a graduate of Information Technology (IT) from Makerere University.

She began her career in Uganda as a radio and television host before she was poached by the Standard Media Group in 2012. While she anchored news, Biira hosted the Business Today show.

The journalist joined German Company, Deutshe Welle, where she co-hosted the EcoAfrica show. Currently, she is the Creatives Director at Africa Speaks Limited. 

BBC presenter, Nancy Kucingira.
BBC presenter, Nancy Kucingira.
BBC

Nancy Kucingira

Nancy Kucingira adds to the list of Ugandan journalists who took the Kenyan media industry by storm.

Just like Biira, she was poached by KTN as a news anchor. Kucingira anchored news on KTN Prime alongside Ben Kitili between 2013 and 2016.

The climax of her career at KTN was in 2015, when she was announced as the winner of the BBC Komla Dumor Award. Consequently, she trained with the British media house for three months, before returning to KTN News.

The Ugandan journalist moved to BBC in 2016. She hosts the Focus on Africa, World News Today and The Briefing Shows.

Gaetano Kagwa

Gaetano Kagwa is a Ugandan journalist who wears several hats including actor and radio host. Born in Kampala, he moved to Kenya aged five years, then to Lesotho four years later.

He holds a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in America. He began his career in media as a radio presenter.

Gaetano moved to Capital FM Kenya from Capital FM Uganda in November 2009. 

"Gaetano has been a breakfast host before in Capital FM Uganda and Vision Uganda. He is a big TV personality, renowned all over Africa. 

"He brings with him a lot of knowledge from the entertainment industry and Africa from his travels with Studio 53," stated the then Capital FM Programmes Controller, Somoina Kimojino.

He co-hosted the Capital Breakfast show with Eve D'Souza. The two resigned from the station in December, 2011 under unclear circumstances.

Ex- Capital FM radio presenter, Gaetano Kagwa
Ex- Capital FM radio presenter, Gaetano Kagwa
The Pearl Times