I sold porridge at a mjengo - Former NTV anchor Winnie Mukami

I sold porridge at mjengos - Former NTV anchor Winnie Mukami

Sue Watiri

January 25, 2019 12:19 PM

From grass to grace.

Winnie Mukami (Fcaebook)

Before there was Lillian Muli, Victoria Rubadiri and Betty Kyallo there was Winnie Mukami, Catherine Kasavuli, Sophie Ikenye and Louis Otieno amongst others.

For many Kenyans, Winnie Mukami is one of the OGs having worked at KBC for 2 years and NTV for 7 years (from 2003 to 2010) before she made an unexpected exit from the media.

Mukami during her days as a news anchor (Facebook) Pulse Live Kenya

Years after leaving NTV, Winnie resurfaced after joining the board of Kenya Pipeline Company. While she was away from the limelight, Winnie also established a public relations company called Winners Frontiers International Limited which is doing pretty well.

Humble Beginnings

Prior to making it to TV, Winnie told People Daily that she was willing to do whatever it took to help her parents provide for her siblings and that included odd jobs.

Mukami sold porridge (uji) to manual workers at mjengos in Kitengela before she joined the EPZ as a tailor. Her big break came in 2001 when she applied for a job at the state broadcaster KBC and got in. She worked at KBC for 2 years before joining NTV in 2003 where she worked for 7 years before she was unceremoniously booted from the station to pave way for new blood.

Mukami worked at NTV for 7 years (Facebook) Pulse Live Kenya

“I got out of my job in 2010 when a ‘Tsunami’ (as it was called then) broke out, sweeping off a team, so as to usher in a new breed of journalists and anchors.Well, I cannot say it was easy despite having considered the idea of leaving even before the retrenchment announcement came,” Mukami told People Daily.

Sue Watiri