Friday, March 29, 2024

From an untrained teacher to a top-ranked journalist in Kenya

My name is Collins Oduor Oluoch. This is my story of how i got to become a top-ranked journalist in Kenya.

I was born on 30th August 1995. I grew up in the village of Siaya county, Ugenya sub-county. Unfortunately, my mother passed on when I was young, leaving my siblings and I in our father’s care.

collins oduor

I enrolled at St. Mary’s Ukwala Boys Primary where I took my primary education under difficult circumstances. My father was a bicycle repairer. His job was what we depended on to get at least one meal per day.

I journeyed to and from school on foot. I used to eat only one meal per day; supper alone. The difficult times were psychologically tormenting and my school performance dwindled. Poor performances became a norm I had to familiarize myself with.

I clearly remember, one time, in class seven when we did an exam that was to promote us to the next class; class eight. I failed to attain the set pass mark and I was overwhelmed with dejection.

My Science teacher then, Sister Diana who was a catholic nun, advised me to keep my head high and retake class seven. It was never the easiest of decisions to make by myself. I consulted my father pertaining the matter and he advised me to retake the class. He said to me,

“My son if repeating class seven will make you get back on track, then go ahead!”

I had no choice but to repeat the class.

In the next academic year, I was amongst the top ten students in class 7. My performance shed light of reassurance on me, giving me the strength to soldier on with my studies. In the year 2011, I did my KCPE and passed very well.

I received a call-up for admission to one of the best boy’s schools in our county. Gunning finances to get admission to my dream county school was a woeful affair. I, therefore, ended up enrolling at St Charles Humwend, a neighboring secondary school.

During my high school study tenure at Humwend secondary school, I developed a cordial interest in the Kiswahili language. I made close ties with my Kiswahili teachers, Mr. Barasa and Mr. Mukwana.

Mr. Mukwana happened to be my class teacher too. The two teachers helped me become more affluent in my Kiswahili speech, and sarcastically removed the Luo accent that was affecting my speech delivery.

Kiswahili storybooks played a huge role in my language development. At school, I ended up being branded the nickname ‘Taifa Leo’, due to the love I had for reading the old-classic Swahili newspaper.

In 2015 I did my KCSE exams and passed. After high school, I lacked the finances to enroll in a college, university, or tertiary institution. My ambitions were to become a successful Journalist with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism.

However, this was not the case as I watched my university dreams choke a silent death.

In 2016, I decided to reach out to my old teacher and mentor, Sister Diana who was now the Headmistress at St. Patrick Ukwala Girls. She was kind enough to offer me a job as a PTA teacher. My monthly paycheck working at the school was Kshs. 2,000.

During the holiday period, my brother who lived in Malindi called me and requested that I visit him. He assured me that I’d get to have fun and enjoy my stay with him.

“You have to visit me in Malindi don`t just stay in the village after school,”

He said.

I had saved up some money from my paychecks as a teacher at Ukwala Girls. It was enough to get a ticket bus fare to Malindi. Little did I know that this would be the turning point in my life.

I arrived in Malindi and decided to stay permanently. I, therefore, quit my job at  St. Patrick Ukwala Girls. I was passionate and eager to learn about the coastal culture. I admired their Kiswahili accent.

In 2017, I was successful in landing a job as a Kiswahili teacher at Smartways Academy. The school director Mr. Bonface Simiyu had a lot of faith and trust in me and gave me a candidate class awaiting their final primary school examinations.

I repaid his trust by helping the school achieve exemplary marks in the KCPE examinations. My hard work and resilience bore fruits.

During my teaching tenure at Smartways Academy, a radio station by the name ‘Radio Jahazi’ was launched in Malindi. I was confident that this was the opportunity of a lifetime to edge towards journalism and by all means, I had to take my shot at it.

I, however, did have a lot of questions in mind. ‘How would I start my job application?’ was the most relevant as it kept lingering on my mind. I was not trained at anything in the field of journalism let alone train as a Kiswahili teacher.

All I had with me were my secondary and primary school result slips, a certificate and my National ID. When luck smiles your way, you return the favor.

I mustered all the confidence I had in myself and decided to visit the Radio Jahazi station offices for a job interview. I met radio presenter, Jabali and explained to him my cause for my visit to their offices.

I requested an opportunity to teach Kiswahili through the radio program on weekends, and God was graceful enough to grant me the maiden opportunity to work at a radio station as a Kiswahili teacher, doing what I loved!

We came up with a program called Nyambizi ya Lugha where I taught the Radio’s target audience, especially pupils, the Kiswahili language.

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In the course of my time at Radio Jahazi, I learned a lot. This included learning how to control the studio machines, photography, voicing, and some production works. I was turning out to become the prolific journalist I had always thought of, through apprenticeship.

One day along the corridors at Radio Jahazi, I met Mr. Titus Mutemi, a sports presenter and commentator. We talked and it all turned out well as he was very kind. I sought to be mentored by him and he delightfully agreed to help me reach my potential.

I began co-hosting some of his sports programs. He taught me a lot and from him, I gained more in the field of journalism.

In October 2021, the catholic diocese of Malindi launched a radio station called Radio Bayana. They were seriously looking for volunteer journalists. Mr. Mutemi and I decided to try our luck.

We went for interviews and we got the job. Mr. Mutemi was later appointed as the head of the Radio and we were fully employed. A dream come true indeed!

From an untrained teacher to a top-ranked journalist in Kenya
Catholic Diocese of Malindi launches a radio station, Radio Bayana. 105.4FM Malindi.

Today I have a program called Jukwaa la Elimu where I discuss important matters with education stakeholders.

The coastal community loves to have their language promoted and for this reason, I set up a segment where I give a Kiswahili teacher the chance to teach Kiswahili through the program.

I also mentor young people with a passion for broadcasting as well as nurturing them in writing and reciting Kiswahili poems. (Mashairi)

My idol in broadcasting has always been Hassan Ali Kaule now in Radio Maisha. Anyone can dream bigger and my dream currently is to work at a big media house. I am motivated and very determined to make it to the big.

I also plan to empower young people by encouraging them that through hard work and being passionate, they can always reach their limits, regardless of their level of education.

I have been visiting various schools in the coastal region, identifying students burning with a desire to excel in journalism. I coach the selected students with the relevant life skills and empower them.

My biggest setback over the years has been the death of my father and my stepmother. After I received employment, my father succumbed to Diabetes. I owe my success to my father who was always a pillar of inspiration and support when the times got rough.

Sadly, on the day he was buried, my stepmother who raised me also passed away. This was for sure the darkest moment in my life. God has strengthened me and I am on the right path.

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