“I took the shot, I had the team, we had the blessings and our flag went high,” Jesse Mwitwa wrote on his facebook page, amidst congratulatory messages.
A display of his accolade that accompanied the words followed, announcing his prestigious award, as the Young PR Professional of the year, in the recently concluded 2023 Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) Awards.
Mwitwa’s love for the camera has been paying, but not much as it has done in the recent past. Each click, to him brings better results, a new view point to life’s mystery journey, as he yearns to photograph and film the world each day.
Born in Boyman, Gathanji Sub-county in Nyandarua County, Mwitwa believes that his dream of becoming a photojournalist has just taken-off.
“I love nature and filming God’s creation has been my passion,” he says, gazing at a bird perching on a tree next to the Nyandarua County offices, in Ol-Kalou, where he works.
He seems to have allowed his imaginative mind, take a shot of the bird, as it sips from the petals, before he reconnected to the interview.
“It was tough,” He sighs, and continues, “I presented video clips that I had done for the eighth devolution conference held in Eldoret, which basically was on the cascading of devolution.”
It seems not to be a big deal to the 27-year-old, that everyone loved his work at the conference. He only did what he does on daily basis, take shots and edit them to tell a story.
“I have done many (video) clips detailing the milestones that Nyandarua County has gained since devolution that are usually posted on the County Governments social media platforms and website,” he says.
His passion for camerawork began way in Silibwet Secondary School in Nyandarua, where his focus on getting the best out of his secondary education, made him secure a place at Multimedia University’s School of Journalism.
“I pursued broadcast journalism and was once attached at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) as a student, to learn deeper what broadcasting entailed.
“It proved an uphill task to secure employment in the city after graduating and this drove me back to my village. I however, pushed myself out of the house and sought to volunteer at the Kenya News Agency (KNA)-Nyahururu office, where I honed my skills in camera work,” he explains, thankful that he took the opportunity.
For five years, before joining the Nyandarua County Government in 2021, Mwitwa volunteered to offer his camera prowess at the State Agency, which built his confidence in packaging news and information on government projects and programmes.
“I learnt how to package news and information from a government perspective as KNA serves to publicize government projects, policies and programmes,” he added, recognizing that his inclination towards the government’s agenda and commitment to see devolution succeed, helped him package the videos.
Mwitwa is grateful that his boss, Nyandarua County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Mr. Frank Muchina, scouted his expertise for nomination to the prestigious awards.
“His work on bird migration at the endangered Lake Ol’Bollosat, was particularly outstanding and was subsequently picked-up by the Kenya Tourism Board, through our Department of Water, Environment, Tourism and Natural Resources,” noted Muchina, in his congratulatory message to Mwitwa.
Muchina described Mwitwa’s two-year contribution to Nyandarua County as exceptional with his “dedication, creativity and professionalism in his role as a Public Communication Officer, making him a standout candidate for the prestigious recognition.”
“(During) the eighth devolution conference held in Uasin Gishu County (last year, he took a leading role in producing and editing assorted mini-documentaries for each of the County Government’s 10 departments under the theme, ‘10 Years of Devolution: The Present and the Future,’ lauded Muchina, noting that Mwitwa’s whole-of-government approach to issues had helped him to consistently recognize new opportunities to tell edifying stories at both National and County government levels.
Mwitwa’s work positioned the County at a vantage point as it sought to subject its publicity initiatives ,to a professional peer review, which was remarkably, PRSK.
He signs off, “staying positive doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time, it just means that even on your hardest days, you know that God has better ones coming.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Mr. Eliud Owalo, who graced the PRSK Gala Dinner held at a Nairobi hotel, urged the practitioners to endeavour to uphold high standards, while showcasing Kenya’s strengths, achievements and potential for lasting relationships with stakeholders.
“Public Relations is not merely about disseminating information; it is about creating meaningful connections, fostering trust, and engaging with the public in a transparent and authentic manner,” observed the CS.
The PRSK awards for excellence, recognize Public Relations professionals’ creativity and impact in leveraging communication for development and economic growth.
By Anne Sabuni
