Celebrated Citizen TV political Editior Francis Gachuri ended his 17 years journey as a journalist on Thursday.
Gachuri, who was bidding the company farewell during the News Gang show that he has been hosting together with Linus Kaikai (the company's editorial director), Journalist Yvonne Okwara and Jamila Mohamed (Managing Editor) had his last show on Thursday.
It was not business as usual.
Gachuri used his punchline to take a bow at the newsroom even as he took Citizen TV viewers a walk down memory lane.
It was about how his journey began. Yes, he started as an intern at Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation in 2006 spending over three months learning and acquiring knowledge in journalism.
Read More
After the end of the internship, he crossed over to Royal Media services where he rose the ranks from a reporter to a political editor spending 16 years at the station.
While at RMS, he also broadcasted Kiririmbi Show at Inooro FM and took part in radio talks especially on Tuesday mornings at Radio Citizen.
He described his journey as one with lots fair share of good moments, not-so-good moments and one with a few bad moments that say played a key role in shaping him.
"From September 1, 2007, it has been a great ride. With its fair share of ups and downs, tears, sweat and blood, great days and some not-so-good days, many star performances and a few poor shows that to me were more of experiences to learn, grow and improve," he narrated.
Here is his Punchline Courtesy of Citizen TV:
"Today, March 2, 2023, I look back and can only smile and say, what a momentous journey. For 5,661 days I have been a member of the fantastic Royal Media Services family."
He went on to share a message of gratitude to the RMS management thanking everyone for making him who is.
Kaikai and Yvonne also heaped praise on Gachuri asking him to retain the useful values that have been driving his career for the years he has been a journalist.
Kaikai described him as a golden political boy who gave them peace whenever he covered political events.
Okwara on her part said the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Where Gachuri is heading as the Head of Communications and Spokesperson is very lucky to have him.
The TV station also used the moment to take Gachuri down memory lane of when he started his career as a journalist and how he grew into who he is today,
After the speeches, there came a cake-cutting session where other journalists from the station joined to celebrate with him his last moment at the station.
The cake was cut, games were played and presents were handed to him in an emotional moment that nearly brought tears.