My bikini shoot was no big deal- Media personality Joey Muthengi

Let’s start by clearing the air. You hosted ‘Sugar and Spice’ on Ebru TV and it is alleged you were fired...

I hosted the show for two successful seasons. I had some disagreements with the management about my vision for the show, so we decided to part ways. It was amicable.

You come from a religious family. Does this conflict with working in the entertainment industry?

Not really. My parents allowed me to pursue my own path. Their main concern is that I respect my background and strive to be a blessing wherever it is that God opens up a door for me to work.

Growing up in a religious family, we used to go to church and Sunday school every Sunday. We had Bible studies during the week and were brought up with strict moral code.

You graced the cover of True Love rocking a bikini, what made you settle for that?

The True Love team approached me with the concept. I was hesitant at first but decided, why not? I think women need to be more open to celebrating their bodies and flaws. It is all about body positivity.

You lived abroad for a while, what made you decide to move back to Kenya?

My family moved to the United States when I was just two years old and we lived in Philadelphia and Chicago.

But we later came back to Kenya and I joined the Rift Valley Academy before I returned to the US on my own for college, where I pursued double major in communication and business management at Hope Collage.

I guess I just missed home and wanted to seek out opportunities here.

How was the experience working with Channel O?

Working with an international show was one of the best experiences of my career. I got to travel and work with an amazing team.

It was an honour to be the Kenyan representative video jockey for three years. It exposed me to a different market and helped propel me regionally in the TV game.

How did you land the job at Capital and how was it working for one of the biggest radio stations?

Capital was great. The work environment, the people and the vision of the company are incomparable to many media houses. I started as an intern doing voice-overs and was eventually promoted to the position of a lifestyle presenter in December 2008.

You are a good rapper. When should we expect a new single?

I’m not actively pursuing that aspect of my career. It was something I did for fun at the time, had a good run but my focus is elsewhere now.

You are private about your dating life. Anyone in the picture?

Yes, but I do not want to reveal his identity.

Tell us more about your blog?

My blog is called Miss Chocolate Rain on Tumblr. I recently shut down my previous blog so I could start afresh.

As a poet and spoken word artist, it’s a chance for me to share some of my work with like-minded individuals.

What’s your take on poetry and spoken word in Kenya?

There are a lot of talented artists in Kenya. With more platforms to express their creativity, the industry could be a force to reckon with.

You went back to radio on Hot 96, why?

I guess I had just missed radio. It will always be my first love and I hope I can have another opportunity to be behind the microphone at some point in my career.

Now that you are back on TV, how is it?

Well, I host the Power Breakfast Show on Citizen, so that means early mornings - waking up before 4am to be on air by 6am.

I also do the late night show 10/10 on Friday evenings, which I enjoy hosting. The show is a ball of energy and we have a lot of fun with the live audience.