Journalist | Digital Creator | Animal Rights Activist
Hi there! My name is Brenda Nyambura Kamanja, and I am a Journalist and Digital Creator from Nairobi, Kenya. As a child, I used to love playing "Kalongo," a popular Kenyan game where children pretend to have families and cook mud or leaves as dinner to serve to their pretend family members. While it was all just child's play, I guess that experience fueled my desire to become a baker. However, as I grew older, I realized that my true passion lay in the media industry. With my parents' support, I enrolled at Multimedia University to pursue my Diploma and later my Bachelor's degree in Journalism. It was during my first job as an unpaid intern at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) that I learned a valuable lesson from a news anchor. She told me that a pretty face alone was not enough to become one of the top journalists in the industry. Instead, I would need to go above and beyond in everything I do.
That advice stuck with me, and I decided to start my YouTube channel to give my big ideas a platform. As a curious person by nature, I have always been interested in people and their unique stories. I believe that everyone has a story worth telling, and my love for media is accompanied by a strong sense of information distribution.
Over the years, I have honed my skills as a journalist through various roles, including being a radio host on MMU Radio and a Television Presenter on Design TV. These experiences have helped shape me into the journalist and digital creator I am today.
What were the biggest initial hurdles you faced and how did you overcome them?
During my time at DSTV Kenya, balancing work and school was quite challenging. My class timetable was demanding, and there was a lot of practical work to cover. However, I was fortunate to have had great lecturers who made my life easier, and I managed to juggle both responsibilities. As a journalist, one of the most significant challenges I face is getting sources to cooperate when covering stories. Some sources are incredibly busy, their schedules change frequently, and in some cases, they can be challenging to get a hold of. This situation can be discouraging, but I have learned to be resilient and maintain a positive attitude. I understand that building and maintaining relationships with sources takes time and effort, and it requires patience and persistence.
Despite the challenges, being a journalist has been a fulfilling journey for me. It has taught me valuable life skills such as time management, communication, and critical thinking. With every challenge comes a valuable lesson, and I am continually learning and growing in my role as a journalist.
What advice do you have for young people locally and internationally who are just starting out in their careers or pursuing their passions?
• Adopt the attitude of a student, and never be afraid to ask questions. No matter how much you think you know, there is always something new to learn.
• In moments of defeat, remember that faith is tested many times before we achieve ultimate victory. Keep pushing, and believe that success is within reach.
• Remember that the choices you make today will shape the person you become tomorrow. Keep persevering, and stay committed to your goals. There is a future version of yourself who is proud of your determination and hard work. Keep going, and know that I am rooting for you.
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