The renowned feisty and classy screen-siren announced her
unexpected resignation through her facebook page. She claimed that she was
quitting TV to venture into other ‘hustles.’
Personally, I will miss her. She was just the ideal TV girl
and I can comfortably call her Kenya’s Oprah Winfrey. She truly inspired many!
Here is her full statement
"Leave a place better than you found it, is the advice you have
probably been given too many times to even care anymore. But to leave a place and
be the one who is better because you were there, is what my Mama taught me to
care about. It’s a wrap at Nation Media Group for me, but what an epic time I
have had. Even as I move on, I must say thank you to each and every listener, and
viewer who tuned in to whichever medium I was on and engaged with me. Positive
energy begets positive shows always! Stepping into this building 11 years ago,
I knew I was a great radio presenter and singer, but what I did not know at the
time, was that I was about to discover and grow into many other roles. Phil Mathews
tasked me with the Drive show, and he also handed me a manual of the radio play
out system RCS. I read that book everyday, and he quizzed me on what I was
reading almost everyday. I walked around with that manual in the manner that
people carry phones! I had to, had to, had to learn! Not only was I going to be
great on air, but great off air too. When he left, I held forte and steered the
radio station- Easy Fm at the time to the very top of English speaking stations
in Kenya, with engaging content from seasoned presenters such as Ciku Muiruri
and her not-to-be-missed Busted segment every morning!
My next supervisor was John Wilkins and he taught me even more detailed
aspects of programming a radio station. Key elements of a successful commercial
radio station such as audience and music research, rotations and clocks and
other housekeeping matters key to database management. It took time to learn,
but it was important that I do. When he left, I spent some time at the RCS
headquarters in South Africa to hone my programming skills. Both Phil and John
encouraged my interest in television, and to ensure their continued mentorship,
I never let the jobs I did on Studio 53 for DSTV, and Big Brother Africa affect
any of my radio duties. Within 2 years of joining NMG, I was hosting the East
African reality music show Tusker Project Fame. The early seasons of the show
aired on NTV, but subsequent seasons aired on Citizen TV. I must thank Ian Fernandes
for initiating major changes within NTV and especially the creation of the news
and lifestyle show Am Live more than 2 years ago. I was offered the opportunity
to co-host the show 4 times! I can’t even remember why I hesitated in the first
place, but I shall be eternally grateful that the offer still stood. It was different
and difficult, but it was exactly what I needed to grow. The first year was all
about being in front of the camera, but the second was about growing into
television production, being behind the camera and building a product. Spending
time with production crews and editors- the entire AmLive family, thank you for
being the best TV school for me. Sharleen Samat is a lady I will always admire!
Perfection, professionalism and passion for what you do, are the qualities that
make her stand out and these are the qualities she instilled in the production
department. She understood the issues that would hinder the expression of full
potential, and so shoddy, second rate work would never fly with her. If you
choose to engage, then do it well, ask for help where you are struggling, and
give it everything you have, otherwise do not even get out of bed and waste,
not only your time, but other people’s time too. She also taught me about the
importance of validating yourself. And that only happens when you churn out great
work. Whether someone tells you or doesn’t tell you, it’s great work that you
have done, it doesn’t matter or count for much, because you already know, that
you did great work. Honestly, I wish I could tell you about every single person
who has schooled me, but I was only able to be around them by being at the
Nation Media Group. This place has been a ‘hotbed’ of training for me including
a management and leadership course that took a year, and when done, I topped my
class. That coupled with a Masters Degree earned last year, have all added to
my body of work. I wish the Nation Media Group well and success- I am a
shareholder after all, and I hope the Group shall continue availing avenues of
growth to every person who walks in to the building! I know my Mama is proud of
me. I have left NMG as a brand. A competent and qualified media-preneur. But most
importantly, a better person. Stepping forward in faith, in love and happiness.
Expecting no more from anyone, that I would not demand from myself."
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