Radio Maisha news anchor Esther Kirong Chepkoech gave a story about one of her toughest job-hunting days. She started her morning full of hope, armed with a bunch of freshly photocopied CVs, ready to visit various offices in search of a job. Some places were welcoming, and the staff treated her kindly, making her feel at ease.
But by midday, things took a turn for the worse. Esther walked into one office and was met with hostility like sheâd never experienced before. The person at the desk gave her a cold, dismissive look and barked at her, asking if she thought jobs were just waiting around for her to pick up. To her shock, they tossed her documents straight into the bin and added, âWeâll call you,â in a tone that was anything but sincere.
Esther, feeling small and defeated, left the office with a sunken heart. She couldnât believe how some people could treat others so harshly. âMaybe they thought I looked like Iâd come from a rough place,â she said. Kenyans flooded the comments section to give their views. Below is a screenshot of some of the comments:
Esther kirong’s journey
Esther has a beautiful, strong voice that fills the airwaves, but her path to success has not been easy. Born into a family filled with challenges, she has faced more hardships than most people could imagine. Esther lost her father when she was just two years old. She was raised by her mother, who had to care for older children. Life in their family was difficult. Her mother worked on the farm and brewed local beer to make enough money to feed her children and pay for their school fees. They had little to survive on, but despite the struggles, Esther was always determined to do well in school.
Estherâs school years were full of hard work. She finished her primary school education in 2006, then went on to complete her high school education at St. Monica Girls High School in 2010. After that, she joined the Multimedia University of Kenya in Nairobi in 2012 to study journalism. Even though money was tight and she only received Kshs 500 each month from her mother, Esther never gave up. She wore old clothes and stayed focused on her studies.
In 2016, after finishing her degree, Esther faced a tough time finding a job. She visited many media houses, attended interviews, and sent out job applications, but nothing worked out. She was disappointed when a radio station, QFM, hired her, only to shut down shortly after. But Esther didn’t lose hope. She kept pushing forward and worked with a few other stations, including MMU and BHB radio.
Then, in 2017, Esther got a big break. A friend told her about job openings at Radio Maisha. Despite her simple clothes, she showed up for the interview. To her surprise, she was offered a job as a newsreader during the election period. It was the beginning of her journey to becoming a successful radio reporter.
Today, Esther is doing great as a newsreader and reporter. But she says she could never have made it without the help of her friends and mentors. One person who believed in her was Geoffrey Mungâou, a kind editor from Kapsokwony, who gave her encouragement and helped her grow in the media world. She also looks up to her mother and older sister as her heroes.
By Jiamini