Citizen TV presenter Ayub Abdikadir broke his silence over the comparison between him and State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed.
Speaking on Behind the Mic Abdikadir noted that while they had many striking similarities, he had great respect for Hussein, whom he termed a legend in the media industry.
The journalist pointed out that the Spokesperson's meteoric rise in the media to working with President William Ruto is an inspiration to many including himself.
"I hold him in high esteem as a professional colleague who made a mark in the profession and who at the height of his career had inspired many who were studying journalism and those in the media practice.
"He is a gentleman, a go-getter and very humble. A man who achieved the limits of this profession by the time he hang his boots in 2019," Abdikadir stated.
In addition, he intimated that the former Citizen TV anchor had an impact on his career and delved deeper into the details of their friendship.
"We interacted for about three to six months after I graduated in 2017. We share the same faith, profession and love for football. To some extent, we played football together," Abdikadir disclosed.
The morning breakfast show host was poached by Royal Media Services (RMS) after an interview in the run up to the 2022 elections.
He was part of journalists who interviewed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials, including the then chair, Wafula Chebukati and CEO Hussein Marjan, putting the duo on the spot over the controversial Smartmatic tender.
Kenyans, current and former journalists were drawn to his professionalism, articulation of ideas, in-depth research of topical issues and sharpness during the interview.
He was compared to Hussein Mohamed, who possessed the same qualities, stating that the media had finally found a replacement.
Notably, the first to acknowledge Abdikadir was former Trade Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) David Osiany who termed him a talented journalist who mastered his art.
Ayub further revealed that when he was called by Citizen TV, he sought spiritual guidance and counsel from his seniors before deciding to make the switch.
