Notably, the media profession is one of the most competitive careers in the world and success requires exceptional skill.
Recognizing this, former Citizen TV journalist Hassan Mugambi began at the bottom of the pyramid and worked his way up to where he is today.
He was born and raised in the Kibra slums of Nairobi County.
After finishing his primary and secondary education, he attended the East African School of Journalism and then the University of Nairobi, where he earned a journalism degree.
Armed with his degree, he entered the job market and secured a position with Pamoja FM, a Kibra community radio station.
At Pamoja FM, he used the platform to get actual experience in journalism while also honing his craft, particularly Swahili broadcasting.
While he was still at Pamoja, China Global Television Network (CGTN) hired senior journalists from several stations, leaving them looking for replacements.
Mugambi took advantage of the CGTN raid by sending a recording of himself reading news to K24 TV, seeking to secure a spot at the media station.
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His efforts paid off when he received a call from K24 TV inviting him to a screen test.
However, he had a problem in that he was expected to wear a suit but did not own one at the time, forcing him to borrow one from a friend.
“I recall standing up and seeing a number beginning with 020, wondering who was calling me. Then the voice on the other end said, “Hello, my name is Richard Kagoye from K24”
“That was perhaps the finest phone call I’d received in a long time. He told me that I needed to go for a screen test on Sunday and that I needed to wear a suit,” he explained.
After the test, Mugambi received a call informing him that he was one of the successful candidates, and he served a three-month probation period before beginning his full-time work as a news anchor.
He worked at K24 for five years before joining Royal Media Services (RMS).
Mugambi was offered the post of crime news reporter and Swahili news anchor, which he currently occupies.
His journey demonstrates that where you start does not matter; what counts is how you finish, and the significance of achieving your best no matter where you are at any given time.
In February 2024, Mugambi left RMS to work for the Ministry of Defence.
