Violetta Ngina is the host of Kenya’s Gold (formerly Seeds of Gold) on Citizen TV, one of the largest and most popular agribusiness shows in Kenya.
In the show, Ngina travels across Kenya, showcasing successful farmers, modern farming techniques, livestock rearing, crop production, and other ways that Kenyan farmers are increasing productivity.
But despite her obvious zeal and enthusiasm towards an industry that many consider to be the backbone of Kenya’s economy, you may be surprised to learn that Ngina started out with very little background in the agricultural sector.
Speaking on the Organic Guy Podcast, Ngina explained that she was an outgoing child who enjoyed performing.
In class five, she joined the exciting and chaotic world of boarding school, where she quickly stood out as a singer and dancer.
“I used to go in front of the class and sing for a whole two hours, dancing for people,” she recalled.
Agriculture never featured in her plans. Like most families, her parents would take her on upcountry visits to meet relatives.
She saw them engaging in farm work, but she was not particularly interested in it.
“I didn’t see myself doing anything in the agricultural sector; I was an entertainment girl,” she said.
After high school, Ngina worked in the communications department at Strathmore University, writing website stories and interviewing lecturers.
She later joined Kenyatta University to study fashion and design.
Through her course, she gained skills that enabled her to land gigs that involved styling artists for music videos and making outfits for weddings.
At 19, she walked into Homeboyz Radio without an appointment and asked for a job as a presenter.
The station rejected her bid and instead gave her a job as a sales executive, and she landed feet first in the world of radio advertising.
After working for several months, she joined KTN, where she landed a job that involved covering events.
Things were going well until the COVID pandemic hit Kenya, and Ngina lost her KTN job as the company restructured.
Ever the go-getter, she contacted flamboyant politician and former Milele FM presenter Jalang’o, who was building an online media business.
He agreed to hire her, and she began presenting an entertainment segment on Jalang’o TV. She later moved into acting, appearing in productions on Maisha Magic.
All this while, Ngina was figuring out how she would get her foot in the doors of Citizen TV.
Each time she drove past the station, she imagined working there and hosting popular shows like 10 over 10.
“I used to tell God, ‘God, I need to work for Citizen. I need to work for Citizen,’” she said.
Her efforts and prayers paid off, and one day Citizen TV invited people to audition for a new agricultural show.
Despite having no farming background, Ngina accepted.
The audition took place in a greenhouse, a setting that she had hitherto never been familiar with.
Soon afterwards, she received an offer from Citizen, which coincided with another offer she received to be part of Jiffy Productions, a film company associated with Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla.
Ngina accepted Citizen’s offer, and she was immediately thrown into the heavyweight category.
Her first interview guest was then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The interview was successful, and Ngina went on to do hundreds more others.
Today, she is in her third year of presenting Kenya’s Gold, which airs on weekdays.
The job has taken her across Kenya and to other countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and the United States
She also runs her business, which involves processing and selling coffee.