As United States (US) President Joe Biden’s administration winds up its work at the White House and Donald Trump prepares to take over, several people have lost their jobs, including two Kenyans.
Polly Irungu, a Kenyan-born multimedia journalist and visual storyteller, has announced her exit from the White House following the end of President Joe Biden’s administration as Donald Trump prepares to take office.
Polly, who made history as the first black Photo Director serving under Chief Official White House Photographer Adam Schultz, expressed her gratitude for what she described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In a heartfelt reflection, she recalled her journey from immigrating to the United States from Kenya as a child.
Born in Nairobi, her family moved frequently due to her father’s work, living in cities like Topeka, Kansas, and Little Rock, Arkansas. She began learning English after arriving in America and immediately started exploring her love for visual storytelling.
“When I immigrated from Kenya as a child with my family, I didn’t speak English. I developed a love for visual storytelling and worked at McDonald’s in high school to save up for my first camera.”
“I never thought my passion would take me to The White House,” she stated.
Also Read: Polly Irungu: Kenyan Journalist in Kamala Harris’ Campaign Team
Kenyan-American Joy Ngugi Exits White House
At the same time, Kenyan American woman Joy Ngungi has announced her exit from the White House. She served as the senior presidential producer in the office of digital strategy.
Ngugi’s journey to the White House began with her involvement in the Biden/Harris Presidential Transition team, where she served as a producer for three months.
Before that, she held the positions of associate producer and digital content intern in the Biden for President campaign.
Ngugi’s dedication to filmmaking and addressing social issues has been a central theme in her career. Before her time at the White House, she served as a television producer at the PBS station in South Bend, Indiana.
In a previous interview, she shared that working in Washington wasn’t part of her original plan. She explained that she applied to numerous internships to constantly refine her technical skills.
Additionally, in 2018, she volunteered as a videographer and photographer for Reach International UK, an initiative focused on supporting orphanages and community development in Honduras.
Moreover, Ngugi has in a farewell note highlighted her work with President Biden, including producing, directing, scripting, filming, and pitching a wide range of content featuring the President.
“During my time at the White House as Director of Presidential Video Production, I’ve had the privilege of producing, directing, scripting, filming, and pitching a wide range of content featuring the President, across the country and around the world.
“Here’s one that I recently pitched, directed and produced. Interviewing the President for this particular project was extra special. Special thanks to the talented team who made this possible,” she stated.
Also Read: Meet Joy Ngugi; Kenyan Lady Working for Biden at White House
How Polly Irungu Got Into the White House
Determined to pursue her passion, Polly worked at McDonald’s in high school to save money for a camera and laptop. She used her brother as her model during weekend photography practice sessions.
Then she honed her skills by photographing concerts and sports games, challenging herself to capture dynamic action shots and improve her techniques.
Finally, her passion and dedication paid off in her senior year when she got her first major break assisting at the Grammys. This experience motivated her to take her craft seriously and landed her a job at the White House.
“After nearly three years, today was my last day. Thank you, Mr President, Adam Schultz, and Lawrence Jackson for the honour of a lifetime,” she said in her farewell message.
Polly credits much of her inspiration to her mother, the eldest of 12 siblings, as well as two prominent photographers, Lola Akinmade Åkerström, an award-winning Nigerian photographer and author, and Audrey Woulard, a Nikon ambassador specializing in children’s portraiture.
She also draws motivation from her peers, including Sarahbeth Maney, whose powerful photo of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s daughter admiring her mother during her confirmation hearing became one of 2022’s most celebrated images.
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