Losing a job is a tough experience as it means that you’ve lost a revenue stream - which in most cases translates to financial difficulties and challenges in catering for utility bills and other needs.
However, how you handle and respond to job loss is what determines how your future will be. If you take it positively, reinvent yourself, and be agile, you stand a better chance of getting other opportunities.
A good example is a group of Kenyan media personalities who were fired by their employers, but reinvented themselves and are currently enjoying great success.
In this article, we will focus on media personalities that include; Betty Kyalo, Jalang’o, Shaffie Weru, Joe Mfalme and Terryanne Chebet.
Betty Kyalo
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Betty Kyalo was fired by Media Max (K24 TV) in May 2020. Back then, she was serving as a news anchor for the weekend edition.
She was shown the door as part of a restructuring exercise by the company.
Following her termination, many expected that she’ll hustle for another News anchor job, considering that she was one of the best, but she did not.
Instead, she went big on her personal business projects and even launched a YouTube Channel where she shared lifestyle content with her fans.
Her channel Betty Kyallo Lately emerged as one of the fastest growing channels in the country in 2020.
In addition to content production, she also expanded her Flair by Betty salon, open a barber shop dubbed Aftershave by Flair, and a restaurant dubbed The Summer House.
She also worked with several brands pushing their content on her pages and earning good money.
Betty and her two sisters; Mercy and Gloria also got a deal to produce a reality show dubbed Kyallo Kulture.
File image of Betty Kyalo and Felix Odiwuor aka Jalang'o. [Photo: Courtesy]
Jalang’o
He was among the employees that were let go by Media Max in 2020. Back then, he was a co-host for Milele FM’s morning show alongside Alex Mwakideu.
After his termination, Jalang’o took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic that saw people stay at home and launched his YouTube channel dubbed Bonga na Jalas.
The Channel took the country by storm and became one of the most popular in 2020. Through the channel, he got to interview high profile guests that include President William Ruto, who was then deputy president.
In July 2020, Jalang’o went back to radio after taking a job at Radio Africa as a presenter on Kiss 100’s morning show alongside Kamene Goro.
He served in the role until February 2022, when he resigned to popularise his Lang’ata parliamentary bid.
In the August 2022 general election, Jalang’o was elected Lang’ata Member of Parliament, a position he hold to date.
Shaffie Weru
He was fired by HomeBoyz Radio in March 2021 over claims of making remarks deemed to offensive against women.
However, a month after his dismissal, Shaffie divulged that he had secured a new job as Head of Entertainment at Roya Group of companies.
“This is my new hustle and here we do many things... it does a lot of investments that does a lot of investments and realtor business... This is my new hustle. This time round I am coming out," he said in past interview.
In addition, Shaffie worked with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s government to plan the inaugural Nairobi Festival that happened in December 2022.
He has also been emceeing at different events and pushing brands online.
Clearly, being fired from radio was a setback, but it seems to have opened a new world for Shaffie who appears to make boss moves in the different sectors he’s ventured into.
DJ Joe Mfalme
He was fired by Homeboyz Radio alongside Shaffie Weru.
Following the termination, Joe who had spent a huge part of his career playing in radio stations, decided to go big and solo practice and its paid off for him.
Judging by posts on his instagram page, he is one of the most booked deejays in the country, as a day barely goes without him playing at an event somewhere.
He also features on a show dubbed Turn Up that airs on Maisha Magic East on Saturdays.
Terryanne Chebet
She was one of the journalists fired by Royal Media Services (RMS) in 2016. Back then she was a Business News anchor on Citizen TV.
In several interviews, Chebet acknowledged that being fired was tough and a huge setback, but also noted that it have her an opportunity to grow over and beyond her comfort zone.
File image of renowned journalist TerryAnne Chebet. [Photo: Courtesy]
Two years after being fired, she took up the role of Chief Executive Officer at Fanaka TV and served for a year and three months.
While serving at Fanaka, she landed an ambassadorial deal with Molfix diapers - make her the face of the brand.
After leaving Fanaka, she joined Metropol TV Kenya as General Manager and served for a year and four months.
In January 2023, she landed arguably one of her biggest TV jobs after being named Senior Correspondent and Business Development Lead Kenya for CNBC Africa.
She holds the position to date.
