- Seasoned television reporter Francis Gachuri has recalled details of an ordeal that almost took away his life in September 2007 when the post election violence broke out .
- The reporter who disclosed about it in a special farewell message, revealed how their efforts to reach out for help from Nyanza provincial police became futile, sending them to fearfully react by saying their last prayers.
- Although help was finally able to come by, Gachuri insists having learnt the very important lesson that journalism was for sure a career for the strong at heart.
In an emotional message jotted to mark the end of his tenure as a senior reporter in one of the countries most popular television stations, Francis Gachuri has revealed how some three dates; 1st of February 2006, 1st of September 2007 and 2nd of march 2023 became key spells in his journalism career.
While the 1st of February and the 2nd of march respectively indicate his sunrise and sunset as a trained journalist, the 1st of September 2007 speaks to a wider issue about the toll of the infamous 2007 post election violence which aside reporting about it from a firsthand view, nearly took away his life. “On 1st of February 2006, my career began at the Kenya broadcasting cooperation KBC as an artist. My stint here lasted exactly 560 days” he said.
However few days after ditc
hing state-owned KBC, he immediately changed positions to the royal media services at a time when the much anticipated general elections were only 117 days away. Finally, the elections dawned and Gachuri alongside his colleagues Steve Shitera and Collins Odhiambo were sent on ground to cover ODM nominations in the countries Nyanza region.
According to Gachuri, although the nominations possibly went down with much ease, the elections weren’t and before they came to their senses on what was really transpiring, the country was up in flames, and them (gachuri and colleagues) were trapped at the center of it. Their efforts to reach out to Nyanza provincial police officer Grace Kaindi bore no fruits and things were beginning to really get nasty.
However, through what he terms as a narrow escape, Gachuri and his colleagues were finally able to rescued, though in the midst of the night from the war-torn Kisumu to Nakuru via Cavakali and were finally able to land in Nairobi on the 29th of September. In an ordeal that was by far characterized by life-changing lessons, and one he contends to having fueled his coming of age, Gachuri insists having learnt that journalism for sure wasn’t a thing for the weak at heart. “ That experience was defining. It taught me that journalism was for the brave. That bravery is not just against the physical danger, but the social, mental and psychological dangers.” He explained.
However after the one, very daring experience, Gachuri acknowledged to having had an arguably more fair ride with much star performances, good days and some up and downs, that greatly enabled him to learn and grow.
Gachuri who has relinquished his job as a senior reporter at citizen TV is said to be heading out for a greener pasture in the government of Kenyas administration.
