The number of journalists quitting the newsroom for politics has recently increased with media personalities using their influence on radio or TV to make their way into politics.
This articles features some of the former radio presenters taking the Central region politics by storm.
Sabina Chege
Sabina Chege is one of the most powerful women politicians in the Mount Kenya region. Her political career began in 2013 when she was elected Murang’ a Woman Representative on a TNA Party ticket.
She later climbed the ranks to become the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Research, and Technology.
However in 2022, Chege announced that she won’t be vying for any political seat and instead dedicated her support to Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga but later reversed the plan and vowed to work with the government.
What many people don’t know is that Chege was a radio presenter before joining politics. Between 2002 and 2005, she worked as a presenter at Kameme FM, a Kikuyu radio station.
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She quit the Mediamax-owned radio station in 2005 and joined Communication Firm Space Africa as the Regional manager. In 2007, she joined Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where she worked as the Programs Controller.
Chege was also an actress in the popular KBC TV drama series, Tausi, where she played Rehema’s role. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Studies from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies.
Gathoni Wa Muchomba
Peninnah Gathoni Muchomba popularly known as Gathoni Wa Mucomba is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Githunguri Constituency.
Her political career began in 2017 when she vied and won the Kiambu Women Representative seat on a Jubilee Party ticket
Gathoni garnered 922,829 votes from Kiambu county constituents becoming the third highest candidate with the majority votes after President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
She made headlines early this year after opposing the Finance Bill despite being a member of the ruling party United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which was behind the bill.
How educated is Sabina Chege? See her education profile
Before joining politics, Gathoni was a media personality and worked in some of the top Kikuyu radio stations in the country.
She landed her first job at Kameme FM where she hosted different prime-time shows before joining Inooro FM. She notes that some of the programs she started at Inooro FM are still running to date.
“Most of the programs I started at Inooro FM are still running to date, including Canjamuka, Mugambo Wa Murimi among others,” she said.
Gathoni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi and a Masters Degree in Communication studies.
Karungo Thang’wa
He is the Kiambu County senator. Thang’wa first vied for the Kiambu senatorial seat in 2017 but was defeated by the current governor Kimani Wamatangi.
His unsuccessful bid saw him appointed County Executive Committee (CEC) in charge of Roads, Transport and Public Works by then governor Ferdinand Waititu.
Thangw’a previously served as a radio presenter at Kameme FM and later Gukena FM. He also landed an opportunity at Citizen TV but declined the opportunity as it required him to shave his dreadlocks which were then dear to him.
