Mike Makori: I overcame stammering and got on TV

Mike Makori, 30, is the former host of KTN entertainment show e-curve and current host of Lotto Kenya. He speaks to Vivianne Wandera about struggling with speech impediment and making a mark as a media personality

Have you always wanted to be on TV?

I didn’t always want to be on TV. When I was younger I wanted to pursue aviation but my fear of heights quickly ended that dream.

If your parents had their way, what would you be doing….

My parents have always been supportive of what I or my siblings wanted to pursue, but my father always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and get into the world of business which I am now pursuing as well.

You are among the most eligible bachelors in the country, how does this feel...

Haha, well thank you for the compliment.

What’s the most difficult decision you have ever had to make in regards to your career...

That’s a tough one. I think I make these decisions daily because I carefully pick what shows and what brands I want to associate with myself so as not to damage my brand.

Do you have any regrets about the career you chose? Are there days that you feel like it is too much...

No regrets at all. Though I quickly realised that once you are in the public domain you give up a lot of your privacy.

Like when we want to know if you’re dating?

I’d like to keep that private.

What is your take on the current political situation in the country...

I feel like we the people must rise above tribalism and petty politics. Once we do that we shall no longer be vessels that our politicians use for their own selfish gains.

 Describe your style...

I’d use the term ‘je nais se quoi’ on the most part. I can’t express my style. It keeps evolving and it depends on how I am feeling on a particular day and what occasion is on the books.

How was your experience at e-curve...

It was a learning curve (see what I did there?) that allowed me to learn and sharpen both my presenting and production skills. It was gruelling but at the same time I enjoyed that chapter of my life. I am now a more wholesome media personality.

Given a chance to go back in time, what would you change...

Nothing at all. I don’t live my life with any regrets.

What do you think of Kenyan women...

Kenyan women are hardworking, driven, beautiful and should be given more praise.

If you were stuck on an island for three months what three things would you take with you….

A good book that I can read over again, a notepad so that I can reflect and write down any ideas that pop up and mosquito repellent. 

Who do you think is the most inspirational TV personality in the country today...

Well I believe I am because very few people know about the struggle I have had with a speech impediment. In fact, it was always a worry that my loved ones had when I told them I was getting into the media world. I used to stammer a lot when I was younger and it’s a struggle I still grapple with on a daily basis. I have been able to mask it quite well and in no way term it as a crutch.