The autobiography of Patrick Riang'a

I Patrick Riang’a was born on 30 November 1989, at Nyangeti village, Nyabitunwa Sub Location, Machoge Masaba Location, Bomachoge Borabu Constituency, Kenyenya District in Kisii County and am the fourth born of a family of 8 and a second born son of Fred and Teresa Riang’a.

If you are living your dream career, perhaps you are sailing in the same boat with me.
Am currently working for Nation Media Group in Nairobi as a News Reporter [Easy FM and QFM] and I specialize at Political Reporting but as well I do Football Commentary with QFM Radio Kenya. Undoubtedly I am a role model especially to those who aspire to be journalists in life.

I attended my secondary education at Riokindo Boys, Riyabu Secondary and Sameta High School and scored B-(Minus) in 2010.
For my primary education I went to Ogembo Primary, Ogembo Preparatory Academy, ST. Don Bosco Mogonga, Rianyanchabera Primary, Nyangeti Primary, Maiga Primary and Charkens Academy where I did my KCPE and attained 348/500 Marks.

I developed an ambition to become a Lawyer but I had to choose between studying to become a lawyer and journalist but I settled for journalism.
What intrigues most about me is how I managed to climb the ladder to live my dream withstanding challenges of coming from a humble family.

My story of commentating Football dates back to class 5 in the year 2002 as I was inspired by Jack Oyo Sylvester who was working with KBC by that time.
Back at Riokindo Boys, Riyabu Secondary and Sameta High School then, I used to be the school news presenter of which I used to read news twice a week. My passion of reporting news at the school assembly always landed me into trouble many times with school authorities, due to my unbiased nature of reporting through the Journalism Club which I chaired.

After my forth form, I got tired with meager income I received from the Football commentary which was my part time employment (in which I used to earn between100-500), and embarked on a journey to Nairobi to look for my dream job (Journalist).
A relative of mine offered me a place to lay my head at Mukuru Kwa Ruben meanwhile as I continued with my job hunting.
I landed a watchman job at Kendson Security; my first employer where I earned KSH 3,800 per month (2011). Later, looking for a greener pasture I caved in to a job as a cleaner at Softa Industry, marking my second job in the city where I earned KSH 4,600 per month (2011).
Still determined to make the end meet, I shifted to a bread factory where I earned KSH 200 per day (2011) but still things didn’t work out as I had anticipated.
Unable to withstand the high living standards in the city, I resorted to pack and go back home.

In December 2011, it was a high season for Kisii local football tournaments of which I used to commentate.
Little did I know that a very important milestone was about to unfold in my life.
It was during my football commentary at Sameta Stadium on 22nd of December 2011 at the John Momanyi Foundation Cup; my life took a different twist as Momanyi’s brother David Mochama was recording all the commentary using his i pad.
David Mochama whom I now refer to as my ‘life savior’ linked me to John Kariuki a friend of his, who is a media officer of Football Kenya Federation who loved the commentary by me in David Mochama’s ipad and demanded to meet me.
David Mochama and my other close friend Geoffrey Ombati Ombui who resides at Minnesota USA, had to organize the travelling and the well stay of me in Nairobi.

I met John Kariuki aka Fifa at Nation Centre where I was presented to Head of QFM Radio Esther N Macharia who offered me a place in media.
I officially started working on 12th January 2012 as a trainee in the first few months.
We used to commentate LIVE football with Emanuel Igunza now working with BBC and Rashid Abdalla, the QFM morning breakfast co-host presenter.
Sometime later I was confirmed as an employee of Nation Media Group where now I proudly reveal that a variety of stations have requested for my service but despite the efforts made by them to have me out of Nation Media Group, I always insist that NMG is my home.

Thereafter, I joined the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) in September 2012, where I was undertaking a Diploma in Journalism but due to my job strains I dropped out a year later and joined Moi University where am pursuing a Degree in Bachelor of Science [Communication and Public Relations] up to 2017.

On July 2013, I joined News Room as a Radio Reporter [Easy FM and QFM] of Nation Media Group under Robin Njogu and I have always worked hard to improve my Journalistic skills and become a senior Reporter.

I acknowledge the role that is and was played by David Mochama, Geoffrey Ombati Ombui, Erick Machokah Moirongo and Wilfred Andita to ensure my career became big.

Am expecting to marry soon and be a father.

I have a political dream of becoming an MP and represent the people of Bomachoge Borabu Constituency in the National Assembly by 2017.

God continue blessing me, God bless Kenya.