TV anchor recounts selling chicken after being fired by K24

Piece by: Dennis Milimo

29 August 2022

• The KBC news anchor narrates that back in 2013, he ventured into the chicken business after being fired by K24.

• On June 15, 2021, Bhalo made yet another TV comeback, this time joining Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Seasoned media personality Ahmed Juma Bhalo has opted to walk his fans down the memory lane, reminiscing on days he used to sell Chicken after losing his TV job.

The KBC news anchor narrates that back in 2013, he ventured into the chicken business after being fired by K24.

Bhalo disclosed that he used to hawk chicken in Mombasa to make ends meet.

“2013 nilipoteza ajira kama msomaji habari za TV. Nilihangaika kutafuta ajira sikufanikiwa. Licha ya kuwa na experience ya 2yrs kama journalist na Degree kutoka University Of Nairobi, nilirudi nyumbani Mombasa ku-hustle kwa kuzunguka mitaani kuuza nyama ya kuku,” Bhalo said in part.

He says that a section of his customers were surprised to see their favorite news anchor selling chicken on the streets of Mombasa.

“Baadhi ya wateja walishangaa kuona jamaa waliyemjua kwenye TV leo anawabishia mlango kuwauzia kuku. Funzo - Maisha yanahitaji rijali asiyekata tamaa. Unapokosa ajira, buni yako. Usijali hadhi yako, kisomo chako ama maneno ya watu kukuzuia,” Bhalo said.

Juma Bhalo has had quite a journey in the media industry. He has worked with two media houses twice and was fired by one of them twice.

Bhalo kicked off his journey in the media industry (Mainstream) on December 22, 2011 as a trainee at Mediamax-owned station, K24, and left in August 2013 during a mass retrenchment.

In July 2014, he joined the state broadcaster KBC but his stay at the station was short-lived after K24 came calling again. He was poached by the TV station (K24) in November 2015, only to be laid off again in October 2019 during another mass retrenchment.

“I also worked for K24 twice. I started as a trainee on 22nd Dec 2011 and left on Aug 2013 during a mass retrenchment. Joined KBC on July 2014 and left on Nov 2015 after K24TV poached me back. Only to be laid off again on Oct 2019 during another mass retrenchment,” Juma Bhalo told the writer.

On June 15, 2021, Bhalo made yet another TV comeback, this time joining Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). This is the second time he is working for KBC; from July 2014 to November 2015 and now 2021.