Ian Wafula: I don't ignore my 'inbox'

Who is Ian Wafula?

An easy going 22-year-old outdoor lover and a journalist without boundaries.

You have been compared to John Allan Namu, what is your take on that?

I am flattered given I have always admired him and he has mentored me. However, I see myself as a conflict reporter as opposed to an investigative reporter. He - Namu - once told me not to admire him but admire myself and my potential.

Did you always want a career on TV?

It was a combination of the fascination of being both behind and in front of the camera. Plus I had always admired journalists from when I was in primary school and with time, I developed a passion to tell stories. I often think I was destined to be a journalist because my mum wanted me to be a journalist.

Because she was a journalist?

No. My mother is a school registrar. My father is a head teacher. I am the first born in the family of two children. I was born and brought up in Nakuru and this is where my family lives to date.

So you’re a Nakuru guy?

Mostly. I went to Carole Academy in Nakuru and later to Gilgil Senior School. I later studied Communications at Daystar University; something I always knew I would do.

At your age and being on screen, would you say you have achieved your dream?

I don’t see being on screen as an achievement. It is part of the job but all the same, I think with hard work, sacrifice and doing what you truly love then achieving what you have always wanted, should not be hard. An achievement I would say would, for example, be doing a story that shakes the world.

So you must have been a “choppie” in school...

Actually, my school years were the worst in my life. I was, somewhat, an under performer and the school I was in tended to separate the performers and under performers, and this ended up bruising egos. I did not think I would ever get to where I am today. I remember when I was in Form Two, I wrote a letter to my dad saying I wanted to quit. I never sent it, but we laugh about it now. It is for this reason that I feel the need to inspire below average children and tell them they are blessed with different abilities.

What is the best and worst part of your job?

The best part is that I get to travel and meet different people; something that has really helped open up my mind. The worst part of the job is meeting the families of tragedy victims, and I am expected to get a story from them. In most cases, I wish I could help some of these families more.

So a bad day at work would be...

Aside from the usual challenges when it comes to anchoring, I am yet to have a bad experience. In the field, the worst experience for me was when we got an accident on our way to Ramu in Mandera together with Hussein Mohammed after a tyre burst. Despite the accident, we insisted on pushing on to a place no other media house had been to. We had to tell the story of the conflict that was on-going at the time.

So how did you get your big break?

I joined KTN in 2013 as an intern. I asked for an extension when the internship period ended and I worked on a volunteer basis for a while. I wanted to anchor from the word go, but I was advised to first build myself as a reporter. I ended loving being a reporter and for a moment, I thought I would not want to be tied down by being an anchor, but here I am today.

You must be receiving quite a lot of attention especially from the ladies since your debut into anchoring...

I get a lot of inbox messages on Facebook and one that was a little funny was a lady telling me that all she wanted was to shake my hand or even beat her. I, however, do not see myself as a public figure and if someone wants to say hey, I will say hey. I, however, ignore some messages on social media because engaging them will be encouraging them.

Do you have time to play?

I try catch up with my friends because I do not have much of a social life or I am at home watching movies.

You have covered a lot of conflict. What is your take on the recently passed Security Bill?

Terrorism is a great problem in the country that needs to be addressed, but I also feel like my wings as a journalist are being clipped. I feel the Government is interfering with journalism and we can no longer ask questions that will ensure they remain accountable.

Your take on the ‘my dress my choice’ campaign and the incidents that led to it?

I agree with the phrase ‘my dress my choice’ and I have no problem with what a woman decides to wear. However, people in society are at different levels of perceptions, meaning not everyone will be as accepting. What I would say is for a woman to consider the perception of the people in environments they go to. As for the men who think it is alright to undress a woman on the account of how she is dressed; it is barbaric and retrogressive.

Are you seeing someone?

I am recently single and I believe the right person will come along at the right time.

Who do you admire most in your line of work?

I admire Mark Masai of NTV. He has a presence on television, he is confident and articulate.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I intend to remain in the industry for the next five years to network and create myself as a brand, then hopefully move on into corporate communication.