Over the years, journalists have often diversified into other careers when they either retire or get life-changing opportunities in other fields.
This is similar to the story of former KTN journalist Tim Njiru who left the newsroom to join aviation school.
Growing up, the former media personality dreamt of becoming a pilot. However, he could not actualise his dream following his performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School.
Having scored a C- (minus), he opted to pursue journalism and enrolled Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) to study broadcast journalism.
He enrolled as a parallel student, given that he missed the government sponsorship.
After completing school, he joined the Standard Media Group (SG) as a researcher and grew over the ranks to become a presenter and a show host.
“I got a C- which was not good as it disqualified me from what I wanted to pursue. My parents also wanted me to repeat Form Four.
“For a year and eight months without pay. KTN saw my hard work and gave me a role as a TV presenter for a children’s programme,” he stated in an interview with NTV.
After diligently serving at the research desk at the media house based in Mombasa Road, his bosses took notice and, with time, landed a role to host the Ideal Space in 2013, where he interviewed several real estate experts.
However, driven by his passion for pursuing his childhood dream, he opted to quit media school and join the Flight Training Center to study to become a pilot.
On May 9, 2019, he finally achieved his dream as he flew solo with the occasion marked with the renowned water tradition – where a bucket of water is poured on the pilot after successfully landing the plane for the first time.
Njiri has a private flying licence and can fly several planes. Despite getting his licence, the journalist hopes to upscale his career and study for a commercial licence.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE