Linus Kaikai is an award winning Kenyan journalist. He has interviewed some of the greatest leaders in Africa, such as the late iconic Nelson Mandela, Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame.
Linus will also go down in history as the first Kenyan journalist to moderate the first presidential debate in the history of Kenyan elections.
He is a source of inspiration to many because of his journalism skills and courage. A courage that has seen him criticize top leaders in Kenya without an ounce of fear.
Just like any other person in the limelight, he has also had his fair share of controversy and his ethics as a journalist has once been questioned.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Age
He was however born on 2rd Dec but the year of birth is not in the public domain.
Education
The award winning journalist holds a Masters Degree in international journalism from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Career
The journalist has had a good run in the media industry. Currently, he is the director of strategy and innovation at Citizen TV.
He is also the chairman of the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG). This is a professional association for editors in Kenya, including senior print, broadcast and online editors.
Before joining Royal Media Services, he was serving as NTV General Manager. During his stint at the Aga Khan owned TV station, he worked tirelessly and took risks, such as, sending news reporters to war frontiers, just to keep viewers informed on current affairs.
He started his career at KTN before leaving for South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1999. Linus rose through the ranks to become from correspondent to Bureau chief.
The veteran journalist left South African Broadcasting Corporation for KTN where he worked as managing editor in charge of quality and product development. He worked here for 2 years before joining Nation Media Group as a general manager.
Family
The accomplished reporter is married to the beautiful Mueni. They met way back in 2005 when Linus was covering the story of Kenyans voting in the 2005 Constitution.
In 2007, they welcomed their first child. Both of them were not interested in marriage at first but surprisingly they got married in an elaborate wedding in 2012. The love birds tied the knot in a Catholic church in Kajiado County.
The ceremony was attended by some rich, powerful personalities, such as, Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni and former National Assembly speaker and presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth. The couple have 3 children who have been kept out of the limelight.
Clash with pastor Ng’ang’a
Locking horns with people is a norm when you are an outspoken public figure. Linus has in the past had a disagreement with the controversial rev. Ng’ang’a who threatened his life. The apostle was arrested and released on a cash bail of 200k.
The citizen TV employee also critiqued the spoken word by King Kaka. He feels like the song is a representation of what many Kenyans feel and says that lamenting about issues won’t make them go away. They must do something and reject the singer’s words, the systematic destruction of their country.
Scandal
In 2012, rumors spread about a romance between Linus and Emmy Kosgei. At the time, the journalist was headed back to Nairobi from a fund raiser with his colleagues at Nation Media Group when he got involved in a terrible accident.
Apparently, 9 of his baby mamas who, most of whom were his colleagues, showed up to wish him a quick recovery. Emmy Kosgei ended the relationship over this shameful behavior.
Online sources claim that he sold stories about Emmy in order to ruin the songstress’ engagement to popular Nigerian preacher.
The journalist has never come out clearly to address these claims. They may be true or just rumors created by people.
Awards
Linus Kaikai has scooped the environmental journalist of the year in 1998.
He also won the 1997 CNN African Television journalist first prize while working for KTN (Kenya Television Network).
Net Worth
Linus Kaikai exact net worth is unknown. The media personality lives in a palatial home worth millions. He can afford to live in luxury after all the years of hard work and determination.
