Former KBC radio presenter Bonnie Musambi opened up on his struggles in his pursuit to pursue journalism revealing that he cleaned toilets to raise fees.
Speaking during a YouTube interview with Radio Maisha presenter, Billy Miya, on Wednesday, January 25, the journalist recounted how he left their rural home in Kitui county after his family was opposed to his idea of studying media.
The 2022 Kitui Central parliamentary aspirant narrated that he cleaned toilets at a hotel in Embu - a move that saw him raise Ksh10,000 for his fees.
However, he indicated that things were not rosy divulging that he attempted to take his own life.
"I returned home and told my father that I had raised Ksh10,000. I had already applied for a chance at Mombasa polytechnic and I was accepted.
"My father put the condition that I needed to appear on TV one day. Sadly, he passed away three weeks after I joined the school," he stated.
Musambi added that he joined KBC in 2008 as an artist before landing a permanent job in the station's radio department. Years later, he also landed a role on TV where he once earned Ksh360,000 per week.
"Apart from hosting the Zinga show, I was tasked by BBC on a contract basis to do the Sema Kenya show. I used to be paid Ksh90,000 per show and there were four shows a week," the journalist divulged.
Nonetheless, despite his meteoric rise at the station, he narrated that he encountered a number of challenges at the national broadcaster as others attempted to sabotage him.
"I feared going for the morning show because of the hate as I thought people would be sent after me. I lived around Kileleshwa but there are moments I used to use James Gichuru Road-Westlands-Parklands and then get to Globe. I give all glory to God," he stated.
To counter critics, Musambi explained that he made friends with his bosses who often gave him a heads up if people attempted to sabotage him.
Musambi left KBC in January 2022 after 14 years to contest for the Kitui Central parliamentary seat.
On his decision to join politics, he explained that he was influenced by local leaders in particular UDA chairman Johnson Muthama and his late brother.
He indicated that he wanted to fulfil the dreams of his brother - who was interested in politics.
Despite losing in the 2022 polls, he indicated that he was still keen on serving the nation in the national government hinting at a future appointment by President William Ruto.
Currently, the journalist runs Sang'u FM - which he founded together with his wife - Betty Musambi to the tune of Ksh15 million.
