TV editor squeezes out extra income from writing

By LILLIAN KIARIE

Nairobi, Kenya: Kevin Otiende, 24, is not satisfied with being good at just one thing. He has resolved to put in the extra effort needed to make the most of his career in communications, and it is paying off.

What do you think gives you the edge in your career?

I’m extremely patient, discreetly observant and like to play the dummy as a strategy to surprise my competitors. I subscribe to the 48 Laws of Power — with slight adjustments.

What’s your background?

I am a 24-year-old Kenyan from Nairobi County, and the lastborn in a family of 10 children. I believe in this country and I am certain our best days are ahead of us.

How do you start your day?

My day starts at 4am, which is when I wake up to read my Bible, pray and have my private moment with God. I hit the gym at 4.40 for an hour and then watch early morning news until 7am. I leave for the office 15 minutes later.

What’s your main job?

I work for CCTV Africa Nairobi Bureau as a planning editor and producer. My job is to know literally everything that happens in Africa. If there’s a war, I’m supposed to be the first to know; if there is any event anywhere, I’m supposed to know it before or within minutes of it breaking.

I prepare a daily plan of all relevant news items that my company needs to focus on for deliberation by my supervisors and further action. This requires me to listen to more than one radio station at a time and read widely.

What is your ‘After 5’ business about?

As a journalist, I have honed the art of communication, particularly my writing skills. I am involved in speech writing, script writing, and research and production work. Depending on the client, I can bill upwards of Sh90,000 for my writing alone. If you need anything communicated to individuals, groups or organisations, I am your guy.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

As I said earlier, I greatly believe in this country so I believe I have tremendous potential. I believe that there is enough for everybody’s need but not everybody’s greed, so in the future, I would like to be part of a dedicated team that channels all its energy towards fixing what ails Kenya.

It saddens me when young people resort to crime to meet their basic needs, and that we still discuss famine and jiggers.

Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by my experiences in life and God’s grace that sustains me.

I recall the journey on my way up — getting kicked out of our family home in Buru Buru and heading for the ghetto, getting an asthma attack and my mother rushing me to the local hospital only for us to be given Piriton and sent away, losing my mother at a young age, and seeing the troubles people around me used to go through to make a living. I want to work hard to help myself and the people around me.

Parting shot?

If you find a certain door of opportunity is closed, go in through the roof.

In this life today, you cannot risk waiting for an opportunity to show up. People are not out there just creating chances for you; you have to be as clever as them, if not more. When you strike, strike hard, or in Kiswahili, chapa na fimbo ya kuumiza.