From newsroom to parliament: Media personalities shine in Kenya's elections

Three media personalities are among 85 MCAs elected in Nairobi County in this year's election. The three are Robert Alai (Kileleshwa), Samora Mwaura (Clay City) and Martin Mbugua (Mutuini).
Alai was elected on an ODM ticket, Mwaura on UDA ticket while Mbugua was elected on the ticket of Moses Kuria's Chama cha Kazi. Alai and Mbugua were vying for the first time while Mwaura has been reelected after serving his first term for which he was elected in 2017.

Mwaura and Mbugua are former journalists at Standard Group, where the former was a writer and Mbugua worked as a sub-editor at The Nairobian before moving to the Nation newspaper where he resigned as an Editor to join politics and run Mutuini Hope Centre kids which he founded in 2015. Alai is a blogger who runs his own online publication.

Another former Standard journalist Nyambega Gisesa, who also worked for The Nairobian, was also declared the winner of Rigoma ward in Nyamira County on an UPA party.
Other former media personalities who have been voted as MPs are former Aljazeera and KTN journalist Mohamed Adow who was elected as Wajir South MP on an ODM party.
Donya Dorice Aburi, formerly a veteran presenter at Egesa FM that broadcasts in Kisii, won the Woman Rep seat on a Wiper party ticket after beating the incumbent Janet Ongera of ODM.

Former radio presenter and comedian Felix Odiwuor aka Jalango was voted as the Langata MP on ODM party. Former KBC TV presenter Naisula Lesuuda was reelected as Samburu West MP on a Kanu ticket. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba a former vernacular radio presenter was reelected as area MP on an UDA party. She had in the last parliament served as Kiambu woman representative.

At the Coast, former investigative reporter at KTN Mohamed Ali popularly known as Jicho Pevu recaptured his Nyali seat on an UDA ticket. Previoulsy he had served as the area MP after being elected on an independent party in 2017. Notable former media personalities who lost in the elections are former Governor Granton Samboja who lost to former Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime. A former member of the Media Council, Patience Nyange was among candidates for the position of Taita Taveta County governor on Narc Kenya party but lost to Mwadime.

Two running mates for governor candidates also lost aftert the candidates were trounced. The two are David Ohito a former veteran journalist and editor at Standard group who was the running mate for former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and who was running for the seat of Siaya Governor on an UDM party.They lost James Orengo of ODM, formerly the county Senator.

A former Drum Magazine editor Thomas Maneno who was running mate for Jubilee candidate for Migori County Dalmas Otieno lost when they were defeated by Ochillo Ayako.