Stephen Mukangai’s Journey From Working In Mjengo To Becoming Head Of Sports At Radio Maisha
Stephen Mukangai is one of the most popular Football commentators in Kenya. Photo courtesy
Most of the successful people in our societies including Stephen Mukangai have a story to tell despite their humble beginnings. They say people come from grass to grace and his case is no different. The celebrated football commentator hails from Western Kenya in Kakamega County, Malava Constituency in Namshiya village.
He is one of the most popular Football commentators in Kenya, and in an exclusive interview with Mideyah Digital Media, Mukangai opened up on his journey from his education, working in mjengo as well as toilet cleaning in order to make ends meet.
Mukangai started his primary education at Namshiya Primary school before proceeding to Ingotse High for his secondary education where he developed love for sports and wanted one day to become a professional footballer where his dreams were cut short, where during a friendly match in school, he broke his hand, with the school management neglecting him leaving all the burden of paying hospital bills to his poor family struggle to raise money to cater his treatment.
After finishing his high school education in 2005 at Ingotse High the reason why commonly refers himself as ‘Ingotse All Time Top scorer’. Mukangai decided to quit playing football and decided to venture into other profession related to sports where he chose to pursue journalism. In 2008, Mukangai moved to the capital city of Kenya Nairobi in order to pursue his Journalism career after an Institute of Journalism under an NGO announced a free full scholarship program for media students but that didn’t come to pass as the organization kept postponing the offer as they were supposed to join in February that year before being pushed to April and then July and eventually they didn’t benefit from the scholarship.
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He later joined the Kenya College of Communication Technology (KCCT), present day Multimedia University of Kenya where he studied Diploma in journalism.
After bagging his Diploma certificate at Kenya College of Communication Technology (KCCT), life became unbearable as he had no one to depend on in the city after his attempts of getting a job bore no fruits. The celebrated football commentator opted for median jobs where at first, he landed a toilet cleaning job to put food on the table and pay a rented single room in the slums of Kibera where he lived alongside four guys. They used to pay a total of Ksh. 800 per month which meant Ksh. 200 each but Mukangai said raising that amount was a problem.
He later got a ‘Mjengo’ job at Gachie in Kiambu Country where sometimes he used to trek from Kibera to Gachie since he had no bus fare. At times, he used to wake up at 3am to in order to pay Ksh. 10 as fare before rush hour catches up with him. “I used to walk from Kibera all the way to Gachie, Kiambu County. Usually, I would leave my house at around 3am in the morning,” He further revealed he did the mjengo job for around 5 to 6 months.
In 2010, the self-made ‘King wa Cuzo’ as referred by many of his fans decided to try his luck in Standard Group Media when he visited the media house uninvited and upon reaching the gate was asked the reason of being there and confidently said he had an appointment with veteran sports presenter Ali Hassan Kauleni whom by hard luck already left but he managed to leave his number with the receptionist. Days later Mukangai received a call from Ali Hassan Kauleni who asked for a second meeting at the Standard Media Group.
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The meeting went on successfully, where alongside other media students, they were put on an audition in regard to football commentary. He impressed Kauleni where he got 9/10 unlike his competitors who got 3/10. Few days later, he was invited to co-host a radio show by Hassan which was a dream come true to him.
“Hassan told me to be at Standard by 7am the next day. He added that he will do the Nuru ya Lugha Show with me. So, I was over excited. I was so happy, it was my first day to go live on air,” he added.
Mukangai’s breakthrough came months later when he impressed Hassan during a live football commentary involving Kenyan clubs, Red Berets Versus Ulinzi Stars. “It was in 2010, a match between Red Berets vs Ulinzi Stars. After five minutes into the match, Ali faded the microphone and told me I was so lively. He promised to recommend my name to the boss. That is how I got my job at Standard group.”
The Cheerful commentator has since risen up to become a household name in Kenya as far as football commentary is concerned. He has gained massive following with his popular program ‘Dozi Dozi’ which aired on both Radio Maisha and KTN Television.
After Ali Hassan Kauleni’s exit from the Standard Group Media owned station Radio Maisha, Mukangai was appointed the new Head of Sports for Radio Maisha and its sister station Berur FM which airs its programs in Kalenjin language. Following his new role, Mukangai’s salary is poised to range between Ksh. 400,000 to Ksh. 600,000 monthly.
About The Author
Hakika penye nia pana njia. Surely you deserve the appointment…. My biggest ambition to be amongst top journalist
Kwa keli atafutaye hachoki na akichoka kesha PATA.Heko mukangai .Ni Imani yangu kwamba mimi pia ndoto yangu ya kuingia katika taasisi ya utangazaji itatimia.Asanteni radio maisha kwa burudani mnayotuletea.#iposiku