The harsh economic conditions currently facing our country are making most people, especially the youth, lose hope in life.
Therefore, if you are at a point where you are doubting if there’s truly a light at the end of the tunnel, Walter Kinjo’s life story will inspire you to soldier on and continue pursuing your dreams.
Early Education Years
His rough journey started when he started his primary school education.
He joined Kibei primary in Mount Elgon and studied for two years but was taken to another school called Chemsis for another two years.
He later returned to his previous school in Kibei for another two years.
Due to the insecurity conditions that were prevalent in the Mount Elgon region, he had to relocate to Kapsabet to live with his elder sister.
He joined Kaptobunge primary school in Kapsabet while in sixth grade, and in 2007 he sat for his KCPE exams.
He joined Saboti mixed secondary school and completed his secondary education in 2011.
In 2014 he joined Nairobi Aviation College, where he pursued a Diploma in journalism and mass communication specializing in radio, public relations, photography, and video editing and graduated in 2016.
Humble Upbringing
Walter was born in 1992 as the last born in a family of 3 children, in Kibei, at Mount Elgon.
Unfortunately, his father passed away when he was two years old.
After living with his widowed mother (who was selling illicit brew to support her family) for a few years, he went to live with his grandfather but ran away and returned home to live with his mother.
Unfortunately, the insecurity/internal conflicts at Mount Elgon in 2006 forced him to move in with his elder sister, who lived in Kapsabet.
After completing high school in 2011, he lived with his brother in Kitengela.
He didn’t stay for long since his brother later married, which resulted in family conflicts.
Instead of returning home, he used to sleep in a public service vehicle (matatu) at night while in Kitengela.
During the day, he would work as a manual laborer in a greenhouse and as a conductor in, Mlolongo.
After working for a month, he returned home in 2013, where he unsuccessfully tried to join the Kenyan army.
Breaking into the Media Industry
After returning home, Walter helped his mother in farming maize, and after selling the produce, he saved some money and was able to join Nairobi Aviation College, Nakuru branch.
Apart from farming, Walter played for the area’s local football club and sold flowers as a street vendor (hawker) to pay for his college fees until he graduated in 2016.
He secured an internship program at Imani radio and later at Sayari Gospel Radio in Nakuru (an affiliate KBC radio station based in Egerton).
Since he wasn’t being paid as an intern, he would shoot and edit videos for some of the radio’s clients to earn an income.
He later tried his luck by applying for a job at Standard Media in Radio Maisha.
He traveled to Nairobi but had to sleep in a matatu (again) a day before reporting to the interview at Radio Maisha.
Fortunately, he secured a job at the station in 2018.
His first major task was to cover the Dusit attack in 2019 as a news reporter.
He was later employed as a permanent staff at Radio Maisha, where he currently serves as a sports presenter.
You may also want to check: Stephen Mukangai’s Journey to an Accomplished Football Journalist
