With recent job losses and the global recession, media practitioners have expanded their sources of income by starting various businesses.
The side hustles have enabled them to maintain their social status and even survive the harsh economic downturn.
Also, the side hustles have helped them empower and contribute to positive societal development.
Kenyans.co.ke has compiled a list of Kenyan journalists and their thriving side hustles.
Trevor Ombija
Citizen TV presenter Trevor Ombija runs his private businesses including a co-owned establishment estimated to be worth Ksh60 million.
Ombija, with his business partner, owns Samaki Samaki restaurant in the affluent neighbourhood of Kileleshwa along Othaya Road.
The journalist fashioned the restaurant around seafood and jazz to capture the high-brow taste of its surrounding.
"It was quite an expensive venture. I don't own the land, it is leased. (The restaurant) is estimated at Ksh60 million," he stated in a past interview.
Ombija is also a senior partner at Crestwood Marketing and Communications Limited.
The firm is an integrated communications agency that solves business and communications problems by utilising data-driven and other exceptional approaches to enhance and protect brands and reputations.
Betty Kyallo
Former KTN News anchor is the owner of After Shave by Flair, a high-end barber shop in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Kyallo also runs the Summer House restaurant. This is a dining lodge located opposite the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
The premises offer beautiful grounds for events and family fun.
Karen Lang'ata District Association recently called for the closure of the Summer House because of noise pollution.
The association accused the former K24 journalist of bypassing city laws before setting up the high-end restaurant.
Mwanahamisi Hamadi
Mwanahamisi Hamadi, the veteran Citizen TV presenter runs the Mwanamke Bomba Network.
The Swahili news anchor started the initiative to celebrate Kenyans who make a mark in different sectors of the country's economy.
She started the network to spearhead the success of the Mwanamke Bomba TV segment, which premiered on Citizen TV in 2018.
"The initiative recognises the high moments, lows and lessons learnt as we reward exemplary women who have made the journey worthy," she stated.
Fred Obachi Machoka
Fred Obachi Machoka, famously known as the blackest man in East Africa owns Fred Ranch located in Kitengela, Kajiado county.
The ranch specialises in barbecue cuisines and offers different activities like horse riding, quad biking, picnicking, farm tours and a vibrant children’s playground.
Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla
Citizen TV presenters Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla jointly own a production company known as Jiffy Pictures.
The company is famous for producing Kenyan soap operas, including Moyo, Huba, Maza, Mchikicho wa Pwani, Aziza series and Maria.
One of the shows, Huba, won an award in the event that was held in South Africa in 2019.
Abdalla is also a philanthropist, famous for organising youth empowering projects at the Coast. Among them are football tournaments which run throughout the year.
Youla Nzale
Citizen TV's sign language interpreter Youla Nzale runs Rafiki Vaa, a cloth-making and selling merchandise. She launched the venture in 2018.
Rafiki Vaa designs wedding gowns and outfits for events and ceremonies.
Her handmade wedding gowns are sold at Ksh35,000, while others go for as much as Ksh60,000 depending on design and client.
Nzale's clientele includes Lulu Hassan, Mwanahamisi Hamidi, and other political leaders.
Ken Mijungu
KTN News anchor Ken Mijungu runs a car hire business.
He is the founder of Execar-tive CarHire, a private company that leases vehicles for events.
The company prides itself on delivering top-of-the-range cars, luxurious small vehicles and spare parts.
