Meet Swaleh Mdoe..
Education
Swaleh Mdoe holds a degree in Media Studies from Canada and a Communications Diploma from UK, and a Journalism Certificate from United States International University (USIU-A) among other institutions. He has also attended several refresher media courses. He was a member of the Foreign Correspondence Association of East Africa between 1993-1999 and currently he is a Contributing Editor to the Kamusi Project, the Internet Living Swahili Dictionary of Yale University, USA. Also his featured Internet Links are on www.google.com
Career
Swaleh Mdoe, a seasoned Broadcast-Journalist is the current Managing Editor –cum-Anchor for Citizen TV Kiswahili news bulletin-Nipashe at Royal Media Services, Nairobi, Kenya. He has been a journalist most of his adult life with experience spanning 18 years in both print and electronic media gained from his engagements at the Kenya Times(1991), The Standard(1991-1992), The Message- Editor(1992-1994), Weekly Mail- Asst Editor(1994-1995), BBC (1995-1999), Nation TV(1999-2001), KTN- Editor/Anchor ( 2001-2007) and now Citizen TV.
Swaleh who eschews an image of flamboyance with his sharp dressing, a virtue which could be mistaken for arrogance and a man of no mean feat, he is down to earth. Swaleh who has remained the center of attraction due to the way he represents himself on the screen, is very amiable, humble and viewer- friendly. He often stops on the streets or public places to acknowledge greetings and chat with his fans and admirers, including men, women and children.
Despite his busy schedule which requires him to report to the office in the morning and leave in the evening, being the Managing Editor –cum –Anchor at Citizen Nipashe, has a very strong personal touch; always happy and even managing to smile under pressure. He is elegant and confident but his greatest ace is humour as witnessed in his adlibbing during news reading and often telling viewers anecdotes about his Babu ( grandfather) which has become his trademarks and now published by Macmillan Kenya into a book.
An avid reader with a home-personal library, Swaleh who is a very good organizer was instrumental in establishing KTNLeo in August 2001.
Among his journalistic roles, Swaleh has contributed news stories, features and reports for the UK’s shipping magazine, Ports International (1997-2002), Los Angeles Times(USA), Uhuru and The Express of Tanzania. He has been a member of East African Foreign Correspondents Association (1993-1999).
Achievements
Swaleh’s popularity with viewers on television has earned him several awards and accolades notably among them being by Kenya Union Of Journalists (KUJ) Journalists of the Year Awards as the News Anchor of the Year (Kiswahili) for the year 2003 and again 2004. He is also credited for revolutionizing TV news reading in Kenya by his free style of anchoring.
The Kenyan youths have also recognized Swaleh’s talent and good command of the Kiswahili language and have been looking upon him as their role model and his life as one of courage and determination. They voted him the favourite TV Male Presenter for the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the youth premier award ceremony that recognizes the best talents namely Chaguo la Teeniz Awards(CHAT). Also in 2004 the Daystar University, awarded Swaleh a recognition award, the Star of Excellence Awards.
Living and working under highly ethnic atmosphere in today’s work places, but Swaleh downplays any ethnic agenda or nepotism presenting himself as a Kenyan first and foremost and a Mijikenda second. About his brief incarnation with the immigration department in October 2006, on allegations that he was not a kenyan, Swaleh describes the incident as " The work of wicked minds"
As well as being a Broadcast-Journalist, Swaleh is also a very prolific writer and enthusiastic poet. In addition to various articles in various journals, newspapers, magazines both in and out of the country, Swaleh is also a published author and has so far authored the following books:
Fumbo La Hadaa. A novel published by Mvule Africa, Nairobi(2005).
Nachora Kwa Maneno.
Michezo Yetu.
Tafakari Ya Babu.