The rise of Ayub Abdikadir best exemplifies the values of consistency, hardwork, professionalism combined with talent. He rose from a little known journalist to became one of the most bankable name in the highly competitive media industry. Infact, a section of Kenyans have equated him to ex-Citizen TV prime time news anchor and the current StateHouse Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.
In this article, WoK brings you his career journey starting from Ebru TV, to K24 and now a mainstay at the leading broadcaster in Kenya-Citizen TV.
Ayub Abdikadir
Ayub Abdikadir began his career at Ebru TV as a primetime news anchor. He went on to join Mediamax Limited owned K24 where he hosted the Morning Review political show.
Abdikadir burst into the public limelight in July when he interviewed the then Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati and CEO Hussein Marjan.
He impressed Kenyans with his interviewing skills that brought to the fore the workings of the IEBC.
In a short clip that went viral on the internet, the journalist appears to be well versed when seeking answers of whether due diligence was followed before awarding of a mega tender to Smartmatic elections company.
“Did you know the Cybercrime Investigation and the Coordinating Center (CICC) in the Philippines after the 2016 elections called on its Smartmatic to compromise the elections which led to the election of President Rodrigo Duterte?
Did you know that in Uganda, the biometrics voter kits failed, forcing election officials to revert to the manual’s voter’s system?
Did you know that in Venezuela, in Latin America, in 2017, Smartmatic on its own acknowledged that the turnout of voter figures was manipulated by at least 1 million voters? Did you establish this before you awarded the contract,” he asked.
IEBC CEO Hussein Marjan responded: “No because I rely on the evaluation committee after they do their due diligence and they provide me with the report that is what I rely on and therefore this other news you are providing now are things that I was not even aware about,” he answered.
Joining Citizen TV
Earlier this month, Royal Media Services poached Ayub Abdikadir to join Citizen TV as a senior political reporter. He joined the TV station alongside Wilkister Nyabwa from CGTN, Serfine Achieng’ from KBC and Mary Muoki of Metropol TV.
Following the news, prominent individuals such as Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) Ezekiel Mutua and then Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development David Osiany took to social media to congratulate him.
“This guy Ayub Abdikadir is the new face of journalism in Kenya. He’s the next big thing in the industry. What a talent!” read a tweet from Eziekel Mutua.
“I know talent when I see one. I know professionalism when I spot it. I appreciate depth and research in journalism. Here is another great one of our nation working towards the top. He will get there. Kudos!” Osiany wrote on his twitter wall.
