NTV news anchor Fridah Mwaka has bravely opened up about the challenging early days of her media career in Nairobi.
Now a familiar face on prime-time television, Fridah candidly revealed she once faced judgment and snubs simply because she didn’t own a car.
In a heartfelt video, Mwaka recounted her time as a news anchor at KTN, where she relied entirely on matatus (public transport) for her daily commute.
She vividly recalled alighting at Bobmill Complex on Mombasa Road, then walking across to the Standard Media Group’s offices to prepare for her bulletin.
Despite her professional appearance every evening, behind the scenes, she endured humiliation and classism from some fellow media personalities.
“There are news presenters who never greeted me because I didn’t have a car,” she shared. “People would see me on TV at 7 pm and think I was doing well. I remember greeting a colleague and they didn’t respond. They later told me I wasn’t in their class.”
One of her most painful memories involved a rainy afternoon when she was scheduled to fill in for Ali Manzu for the 4 pm bulletin. On her way to the studio, heavy rain began, and as she waited to cross the road, a passing lorry splashed her with mud.
“I was in a green dress. A certain honourable MP passed and asked if I was the same person he had seen at Bobmill. I said yes. I was in tears,” she recounted.
“I didn’t have an extra outfit, and news time was near. I just cried and asked God to save me from the embarrassment.”
Turning Down a KSh 2.5 Million Car: A Test of Values
Despite these low moments, Mwaka’s unwavering faith and resilience saw her through. However, she also faced unexpected opportunities—including one that could have instantly changed her life.
Fridah revealed that during her period of struggle, a Member of Parliament offered to buy her a car worth up to KSh 2.5 million.
He even took her to a showroom on Ngong Road and invited her to choose any vehicle she desired. To the surprise of many, she turned down the generous offer.
“I don’t know if it was stupidity, but I rejected it. I was scared and new to Nairobi,” she confessed.
Joey Muthengi’s Echoes: Persistent Politicians in Media
Fridah Mwaka’s story resonates with similar experiences shared by fellow media personality Joey Muthengi, who once recounted how an older politician relentlessly pursued her during her time at Citizen TV.
Speaking to MC Jessy in late 2020, Muthengi explained that she became a target after portraying a “gold digger” character in the local TV series Changing Times.
“I’m always cast as the evil woman or gold digger. People think that’s who I am in real life,” she said, highlighting the conflation of her on-screen roles with her real persona.
Joey Muthengi
According to Muthengi, the unwanted attention from a certain politician escalated to the point of harassment. “I blocked him. He then started messaging me on WhatsApp. One day I saw ‘Parliament’ flash on Truecaller while I was at home,” she shared.
She did not reveal the politician’s identity but admitted that hosting him on her show afterwards was incredibly awkward.
“I’ve never dated a politician, but they seemed very interested in me — and they’re all married,” she added, shedding light on the inappropriate advances many female media figures face.
by Geoffrey mbuthia
