Life is good, but can equally be complicated at times. For the majority, adulting is like a Rubik's cube, where one has to keep twisting and turning, and with a combination of luck, everything fits into place.
Such was the fate of Felix Masi, an international multimedia photojournalist cum filmmaker who was part of the press covering Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga's visit to the United States of America.
Seated feet away from Odinga, Masi's journey began as a freelancer in Kenya. However, his fortunes changed when he met flamboyant lawyer Donald Kipkorir, who bought him a professional camera.
An elated Kipkorir was surprised to see him covering the Former Prime Minister and decided to divulge how he helped shape Masi's career.
"32 Years ago, I met Felix Masi, then earning less than Ksh3,000 as a stringer photographer at the Standard and staying in a slum. I bought him a professional camera and I am glad it made a difference," wrote Kipkorir.
Masi is now a Kenyan-American citizen, a provision made possible in the 2010 Constitution. When he met the lawyer, he had just completed training as a photojournalist and was finding his footing in the profession.
Equipped with his own camera, he was permanently taken in by the Standard Group in 2000 to capture images for its newspaper. He worked with the media house for five years, before he quit to venture into self-employment, covering social issues.
As he began private practice, he was among the few journalists from across the world who were selected to attend the International Visitor Leadership programme which is sponsored by the US Department of State.
The training opened doors to partnerships, as we worked with non-profit organizations to document humanitarian work and development in Kenya, South Africa, Angola, Uganda, and the DRC among African countries.
Internationally, he has covered and participated in projects including Save and Protect the Planet, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and a White House African Youth Summit participant for Interface Media Group.
The alumnus of Nyabondo High School has also produced several short films including award-winning 'Hands of Love' and 'A Grandmother's Tribe'. His serial film "Made in Kinshasa" bagged him a World Bank award in 2013.
The journalist continues to use his camera and skills to tell stories from across the world. His gift to society is the Voiceless Children Foundation which offers support to young people and their caregivers.
