A good number of journalists have transitioned from the newsroom to county government jobs, since the advent of devolution in 2013.
These journalists had established successful careers in the media industry, having amassed years of experience, with others becoming household names in the country.
Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at these journalists, what their current jobs entail, and who they were before they signed off.
Franklin Wambugu
The much acclaimed former Swahili news anchor at Media Max's K24 was a seasoned figure in the media industry before he transitioned to the county government of Kiambu as the chief officer in charge of Communications and Public Relations.
The August 2020 appointment, came at a time when Wambugu was let go by the station during mass layoffs in 2019.
At the time he was K24's Swahili anchor and managing editor. Prior to his appointment, Wambugu had amassed over two decades of experience in the media industry. He worked at Citizen TV as a Swahili anchor before joining K24.
Chacha Richard
In November 2015, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho appointed former NTV senior reporter, Richard Chacha as the county Director of Communications and public relations.
This came at a time when the redundancy axe at the Nation Media Group had fallen on Chacha. According to Joho, Chacha's exquisite skills were the vital traits needed in Mombasa county. He lauded him as a well-articulated reporter who exuded high levels of professionalism.
Carol Nderi
Former KTN reporter, Carol Nderi was appointed as the county Head of Communications, leaving behind a distinguished journalism career.
Prior to the role, she had worked at the Mombasa road-based station as a broadcast journalist from December 2006 to January 2018 ( a period of 11 years).
During the appointment, she noted that the transition would enable her to offer direct service to the people of Nyeri County.
Victor Wetende
Victor Wetende, another celebrated Swahili news journalist, also exited the industry for a more lucrative role in the county government of Vihiga as its Communications Director.
The former Ebru TV head of News made the move in August 2018, after amassing three years at the station where he began as a reporter.
Before joining Ebru TV, Wetende earned his tools of the trade at Citizen TV for three years as a reporter, after landing the enviable opportunity as an intern while pursuing his studies at Multimedia University.
Muriuki Mugo
Though not on TV, Mugo worked at Kameme FM as a reporter, before he landed the prime role in the county government of Kirinyaga after the election of incumbent governor Anne Mumbi Waiguru.
At the time, Mugo had attracted both critics and supporters in equal measure for his style of reporting and influence- traits that governor Waiguru deemed would be vital in the service of Kirinyaga residents.
