The ambitious Rose Gakuo attended Laikipia University and graduated in 2015 with a First Class Honours degree in Communication and Media.
She is also the first woman to be elected president of a public university students’ union in the history of public universities in Kenya.
During her tenure as a student leader, she deputised Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino (then Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) President) at the Kenya University Students’ Organisation (KUSO), the universities associations’ umbrella body.
After completing her studies, Gakuo gave a shot at the then premier show at The Standard Group where she was among the finalists in KTN’s “The Presenter” season 2 in 2015.
Her passion and zeal to be in media led to her landing a job as a reporter and an anchor at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
During her stint at the national broadcaster, Gakuo hit the airwaves after joining protestors in the street advocating against the maltreatment of a breastfeeding mother.
In the controversy, a Nairobi restaurant had kicked out a woman for breastfeeding on their premises.
Gakuo in solidarity with the affected lady joined the protesting women in the streets, an act that got her traction with the public.
The fame that followed saw the 28-year-old being poached by Media Max’s K24 in 2019 to anchor their primetime news.
Gakuo proceeded with her work as a journalist and anchor at the DSM towers-based media house, until she was laid off along with others in June 2020 via a text message.
After her time in media, Gakuo landed a lucrative government job at the then-Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in November 2020, just four months after turning 29.
Her job description at the General Mohammed Badi-led entity was to be the head of public relations and stakeholder management in the office of the President.
The NMS was a creation of former President Uhuru Kenyatta who sought its services to streamline delivery in the capital.
Gakuo’s role at the entity entailed leading outward public relations strategies and plans that promote key initiatives while maintaining and improving the image and reputation of the NMS.
However, her assignment at the NMS was cut short after the August 9 general elections. This was after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on September 30, 2022, took over the running of vital city operations.
On her part, Gakuo pledged to support the governor and intimated that she would always be available to work with him to make Nairobi great again.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE