Royal Media’s Victor Kinuthia Best and Worst Case Scenario

Kenyans were baffled by Royal media journalist Victor Kinuthia who went rather was allowed to report on live coverage about the ongoing case and arrest of Kiharu MP in English, a language that clearly seemed to challenge the young Journo.

The reporter attached to Inooro TV was trolled by Kenyans on social media after covering the arrest of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro in what other users called Kikuyenglish.

He, however In a post on his Facebook account, Kinuthia said that although he had been bullied online, his fellow colleagues and Kenyans had reached out and he felt encouraged.

“I almost gave up when I found myself trending all over after yesterday’s 9 pm news. But after receiving calls and texts from my bosses, colleagues, friends, and fans I must say am encouraged,” Kinuthia stated.

Here is a video Courtesy of @KennyKaburu of Royal Media Journalist Victor Kinuthia reporting live from Murang’a

Convergence gone wrong. Inooro TV reporter Victor Kinuthia ambushed to report in English for the Live @citizentvkenya link ? ?#NdindiNyoro pic.twitter.com/LuJ159Nxxk

— Kenny Kaburu (@KennyKaburu) September 9, 2019

The video would later attract trolls from KOT  and other social media app users claiming that Royal media decided to display their githeri media journalist on live coverage.

Here is samples of the trolls from Kenyans On Twitter.

So all journalists come out of school like that. At least I've learnt. Coz clearly he didn't use gikuyu in campus, or did he? Let's tackle mediocre head-on.

— @nyakwarmany (@erickotienoony5) September 10, 2019

I'm nt a jrnalst, bt frm a layman's point of view, this is a very poor feed. Ur reporter dsn't hav gud command of Eng lnguage, fumbled a lot. I couldn't quite make wht he was trying to explain. Wth the likes of @LinusKaikai, @Fchurii, @YvonneOkwara @jageyo i thnk RMS can do beta

— Samson owiti (@asamkowiti) September 9, 2019

Another Version of Victor Kinuthia. pic.twitter.com/IvTH2L6kzi

— Bett CFC (@BettKMax) September 10, 2019

However, the good case scenario is that Kenya’s Top journalists from different media houses have come out strongly to defend embattled presenter Victor Kinuthia. which senior-most Journalists and media personalities urging him to never give up nor allow trolls to shut his ambitions and dreams down.

Here are samples of their messages to Victor Kinuthia.

I’ve done this for 21 years and I can tell you it’s no walk in the park. Victor found himself in a breaking news situation and gave it his best- his first live report of that kind. He’s destined for greatness. Truly proud of him. https://t.co/rQGCC5pO1O

— Joe Ageyo (@jageyo) September 10, 2019

It happens to the best of us. This job isn’t easy but the beauty about this experience is Victor will learn and get better with time. Mistakes are a human condition https://t.co/KtasaGg7zj

— Victoria Rubadiri (@VickyRubadiri) September 9, 2019

In many professions, you hide your mistakes. In journalism, you broadcast them. So give Victor Kinuthia a break. Was his first live link in a chaotic scene. He’ll learn like many of us. Let’s revisit this when he makes it in a few years, In Sha Allah @citizentvkenya @inoorotv

— Hussein Mohamed (@HusseinMohamedg) September 9, 2019

Amidst the #NdindiNyoro shenanigans, one hero arose:This young man, @citizentvkenya reporter Victor Kinuthia, is a beacon of hope for all those who dare to believe they can conquer all fears. He speaks English better than the English speak our language. #VictorKinuthia pic.twitter.com/gDqQG7h83n

— Tash Mitambo (@tashmitambo) September 10, 2019

I watched and can confirm that the young man has potential. He was merely overwhelmed by the situation. Please let nobody fire or dismiss him, first times are always difficult.

— Herman Manyora (@HManyora) September 10, 2019

Thanks for encouraging Victor. We all start somewhere.

— Sakaja Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) September 10, 2019

It was his first time. He will get better with time. We all start somewhere. We will train him.

— Yvonne Okwara-Matole (@YvonneOkwara) September 9, 2019

Victor Kinuthia, kindly don’t give up. Keep your head high. ??

— Ali 'Mwamvita' Manzu (@Ali_Manzu) September 10, 2019

Not everyone in the newsroom is cut for live television. Not all journalists are good writers or orators. Everyone has their own space and place within the editorial ecosystem. A few talents can hack it all, but most would prefer to stick to their trained regime for own sanity.

— Saddique Shaban (@SaddiqueShaban) September 10, 2019

First things first, Victor has been reporting mainly in Gikuyu, his own dialect which makes it difficult to switch easily, quickly and most importantly, perfectly to reporting in English. Yes, I get it, but, why is he not yet fired like other journalists who flop once and they get their contracts terminated with immediate effect for ‘shaming the brand’? Even before firing him, why did they, whoever that is/are in charge of live reporting at RMS, allow a vernacular based journalist to report live in a language that he might, is,  not familiar with?

My worst-case scenario is, Victor Kinuthia might be a lucky example of the much-needed connections to keep media gigs and contracts in Kenya. Victor, in my opinion might be having a high-end connection that ‘placed’ him there and the connection is so deep to an extent that a group of Kenya’s most prominent journalists had to be involved in cleaning this clear clumsiness scenario. Will this “support” happen rather be unanimously expressed to every other ‘first time’ journos in the media industry?