Former Citizen TV journalists have taken up some of the most influential communication roles in President William Ruto’s administration, moving from reporting on government to helping shape its public messaging.
From State House and the Deputy President’s office to ministries and Parliament, the former reporters, anchors and editors now lead communication in key government institutions after years in the newsroom.
The Kenya Times takes a look at some of the former Citizen TV journalists who have made the transition to government, where they work today and the careers they built before leaving television.
Hussein Mohamed
Hussein Mohamed has been the State House Spokesperson since September 2022, when President William Ruto appointed him to the position, succeeding Kanze Dena.
Before joining State House, he headed communication and messaging for Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaign.
As State House Spokesperson, Mohamed is the President’s chief communication advisor. He oversees communication from the Presidency, coordinates media engagements, issues official statements, and communicates government policies and the President’s activities.
He was also part of President Ruto’s delegation during his first official visit to the United States, where the President addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Before joining government, Mohamed spent more than a decade in television journalism. He started his broadcasting career at KTN before joining Citizen TV in 2008.
At Citizen TV, he became one of the country’s leading news anchors and political interviewers.
He anchored prime-time news bulletins, moderated election debates and interviewed presidents, presidential candidates, Cabinet secretaries, business leaders and other public figures. He was widely known for his coverage of politics, governance and national affairs.
Mohamed left Citizen TV in October 2019 after 11 years at the station.
He studied Journalism and Photography at Zetech University, where he was an active member of the Journalism Club.
He later earned a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Studies from the University of Nairobi in 2019.
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Francis Gachuri
Francis Gachuri works in the Strategic Communications team in the Office of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and also serves as his personal assistant.
He previously served as Head of Communications at the Ministry of Interior, overseeing media relations and public communication during Kindiki’s tenure as Cabinet Secretary.
In his current role, Gachuri supports strategic communication, media engagement and public messaging for the Deputy President’s office.
Before joining government, Gachuri spent 16 years at Royal Media Services, rising to become Citizen TV’s Political Affairs Editor. He was among the country’s best-known political journalists, covering elections, Parliament, State House, Cabinet affairs and major political developments. His reporting regularly featured in Citizen TV’s prime-time news bulletins.
Besides political reporting, he hosted “Kiririmbi,” a political talk show on Inooro TV, and was a regular panelist on Citizen TV’s political discussion program, News Gang, where he analyzed current affairs and national politics.
Gachuri began his journalism career at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) in 2006 before joining Royal Media Services in 2007.
He attended Karuri Nursery School before joining Karuri Primary School, where he sat his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
He later joined Senior Chief Koinange High School, completing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 1999. He went on to study Linguistics and Literature at Moi University from 2001 to 2005.
Jemutai Goin
Jemutai Goin works in the Office of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, where she is part of the communications team.
Before joining Parliament, Goin built a journalism career spanning nearly a decade. She began her journey as an intern at KTN before rising through the ranks in the media industry.
She later worked at Capital FM and MediaMax Network Limited, the parent company of K24 TV, before joining Royal Media Services.
At Citizen TV, Goin was a political reporter and news anchor, covering major political events, governance and national affairs. She gained prominence for her coverage of the 2017 and 2022 General Elections in both English and Kiswahili.
She also served as a political and health reporter for the Citizen Digital platform, producing stories on governance, elections and public health.
Over the course of her career, Goin has received several awards, including a Presidential Award during Kenya’s Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2020, in recognition of her contribution to journalism.
Hassan Mugambi
Hassan Mugambi serves in the communications team at the Ministry of Health, working under Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. In his current role, he supports the ministry’s communication strategy, media relations and public information campaigns.
Before joining government, Mugambi built a career in broadcast journalism, becoming one of Citizen TV’s leading reporters on security, governance and national affairs.
He joined the station in 2017, where he gained national recognition for his reporting on terrorism, crime, security operations and other major national events. His work earned him the Outstanding Media Security Investigative Journalist Award in 2019.
Before moving to Citizen TV, Mugambi worked at K24, where he served as a Swahili reporter, producer and news anchor.
His journalism career began at Pamoja FM in Kibra, where he gained his first experience in radio broadcasting before moving to national television.
Born on July 26, 1988, in Nairobi, Mugambi was raised in Kibera. He attended Meru Boarding Primary School before joining Kanyakine High School in Meru County for his secondary education.
He later studied at the East African School of Journalism and subsequently at the University of Nairobi, where he furthered his education before pursuing a career in journalism.
Also Read: Peter Opondo: Former Citizen TV Boss Who Writes Speeches for Ruto
Sam Ogina
Sam Ogina serves as a Senior Communications Officer at the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and is attached to the office of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
Before joining Parliament, Ogina was a political journalist with Royal Media Services, where he worked for more than five years at Citizen TV.
He covered Parliament, elections, political parties and governance, reporting on some of the country’s biggest political developments.
Prior to joining Citizen TV, Ogina worked at KTN as a political affairs reporter between 2012 and 2016. He was among a group of journalists recruited by Royal Media Services from KTN, alongside Mercy Kandie and former KTN Business Editor Michael Karanja.
Ogina left Royal Media Services after more than five years to join the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Peter Opondo – Information Secretary and Presidential Speechwriter
Peter Opondo works as the Information Secretary in the Government of Kenya, a position he assumed in May 2024.
He also plays a key role in President William Ruto’s communication team, where he drafts presidential speeches and shapes strategic government communication.
Before joining government, Opondo was among Kenya’s most experienced newsroom leaders, with more than two decades in journalism and media management.
He most recently served as Editor of Strategy and Content at Standard Media Group between February and July 2021.
He also worked as an independent consultant on media strategy, digital transformation and newsroom innovation, advising media organizations including TV47.
Before that, Opondo was Editor-in-Chief at Mediamax Network Limited, where he oversaw television and digital news operations.
He also held senior editorial positions at Royal Media Services, serving as Group Editorial Consultant and earlier as Managing Editor, where he led the relaunch of Citizen TV. His career has also included a stint as Managing Editor (TV) and News Manager at NTV Uganda.
Over the years, Opondo has built a reputation as a newsroom strategist, editor and media executive, leading editorial teams across Kenya and the region.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Strathmore Business School.
He also completed executive leadership programmes at IESE Business School in Barcelona and a Senior Management Leadership Programme offered jointly by Strathmore University and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Nixon Ng’ang’a
Nixon Ng’ang’a serves as the Director of Communications at the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, a position he has held since January 2023.
He is responsible for the department’s communication strategy, media relations, and public information.
He also served as Senior Director of Communications at the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU) under the Executive Office of the President.
Before joining government, Ng’ang’a was Managing Editor at Royal Media Services, where he oversaw newsroom operations and editorial planning at Citizen TV.
Earlier in his career, he served as Manager for Voter Education at the former Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) between 2010 and 2013.
He also worked as a Senior Communications Officer at the Rural Electrification Authority and as a Communications Officer at the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) Board.
Ng’ang’a began his journalism career as a reporter at Nation Media Group before joining Standard Media Group, where he rose to the position of Senior Reporter, covering governance, politics and public affairs.
He holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Leeds, graduating with Distinction.
He also earned a Bachelor of Education (Literature) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi. In addition, he has pursued a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Kenyatta University.
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