Meet Only Kenyan Journalist Who had Exclusive Access to Queen's Visit

Queen Elizabeth and President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event.
Queen Elizabeth and President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event.
PSCU

Situated at the heart of Nairobi is a company that consists of unseen images of England's longest-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II during her multiple visits to Kenya. 

The company, currently owned by Salim Amin, aims at transforming the quality and scope of television production and post-production content.

However, the business was founded 50 years ago by his father, Mohamed Amin- a Kenyan journalist who had a keen eye for detail. 

A file image of Kenyan photojournalist, Mohamed Amin.
A file image of Kenyan photojournalist, Mohamed Amin.
File

So good was his art, that he took most of the pictures circulating online of the Queen during her trips to Kenya as a monarch.

Be it the Queen smiling at children holding Kenyan flags, shaking hands with a young boy to her alighting from the Royal Train, the journalist captured the once-in-a-lifetime moments. 

The journalist also captured rare photos of the Queen conversing with the former Kenyan presidents. 

Profile

Often described as a self-taught photographer, Mohamed faced countless acts of racism over his skin colour. Undeterred, the journalist embraced the challenges as a source of strength and sought to change the norm. 

His years of hard work finally paid off when his images of the Ethiopian famine in 1984 made global headlines. The journalist was renowned for shooting over 3 million photographs. 

Eight years later, Mohamed was honoured by the Queen and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. 

Through his company, the journalist would supply rare photos and videos to several news outlets across the world. 

Mohamed would, however, meet his demise in a hijacking incident where a jetliner ran out of fuel and crashed in the Indian Ocean after hijackers engaged the pilot in a fierce battle for control of the plane. 

His son, Salim took over the family business and currently manages his father's archive. 

The Queen died on Thursday, September 8, after a 70-year reign as the Monarch. She will be laid to rest on Monday, September 19 at St George's Chapel within the the expansive Windsor Castle. 

Queen Elizabeth in 1952 During Her Famous Trip To Kenya and Vacation in Treetops Lodge
Queen Elizabeth in 1952 During Her Famous Trip To Kenya and Vacation in Treetops Lodge
Africa24

 

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