Gathuki Kinyua doesn’t keep up appearances. He is the same on and off air, whether speaking English, Kiswahili or Kikuyu. Either way, you get the same affable, funny and insightful anecdotes delivered at a rapid-fire pace.

Popularly known as Gathuki Mundu Wakasungula, a name he got from a pal, the radio presenter is where he is, not because he excelled in communication studies but because of his zeal and passion for journalism. You’ve probably heard of those who excelled by luck, and those who excelled by sheer determination and confidence in oneself.

How the outspoken presenter, an IT expert by profession, got into the near–unnavigable media industry is a story that only the bold get to tell.

Gathuki Mundu is a renowned sports presenter at Kameme TV and Radio. He is known for his infectious smile, good vibes and storytelling.

Gathuki went to the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) where he pursued his bachelor’s degree in IT.

After completing his undergraduate, he secured an IT internship at a leading media house where his role was to help people with computer issues.

“I studied IT and graduated in 2006. In my final year, my sister’s husband got me an internship in their IT department. However, since I was a small boy, and my teachers can attest to this, I have always loved reporting,” says Gathuki.

At the media house, Gathuki says he was not satisfied with his job, saying repairing and fixing computers was definitely not his calling.

It is there that he started developing an interest in media, something that perfectly matches his character and talent.

“I didn’t find IT satisfying, so I prayed and then approached Zulu Thiong’o (an events manager) who let me do a show, and the rest is history,’’ he recalls.     

His big breakthrough in the media came when he was allowed to do an evening show. This led to an opportunity to read classifieds alongside Jeff Kuria, another reputable media personality, and then an evening show together.

Big break

“I remember one day, my mentors, PM Squared and Benjamin Wangari, voiced a promo for the show ‘Racuria’, which I later co-hosted with Jeff Kuria for three years. I would report to work at 11pm and leave at 6am, then go to Eastleigh, where I used to eat toast bread for three years,” the enthusiastic presenter narrates.

The actual big break presented itself one day when a colleague told him that another media house was launching a new Swahili radio station, primarily for sports. It piqued his interest. He tried applying for the job several times but was always unsuccessful. 

Then, in an ironic turn of events, during his uncle’s burial, a somewhat sombre event, one of his cousins connected him to Mzee Toldo Qurya, a presenter for the newly-launched Swahili radio station, and one of the people he credits for giving him a big break in his career.

“Toldo came in handy. I was called for a voice test and got the job as soon as I was done. It was unbelievable,” he says.

He went on to work there for five years, the highlight of which was attending and commentating on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Later there were rumours that he had joined Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2012 election campaign, with some on social media saying that he would quit his job. He denied the rumours because his then-employer was apolitical. But in December 2012, after the results were announced, he joined Mediamax and has since served his sports fans with amazing content and commentary.

While he holds journalism dear in his heart, Mundu is a man who wears many hats. He is also a musician and already has four songs under his belt. He emphasises that music is his retirement plan and is looking forward to touring the world to perform his music.

“I have observed that older musicians, say 50 to 60, practice less immorality and are much more respected. Even travel becomes easier because the kids are old enough to care for themselves, and you can move with your wife.”

The happy father of four does neither gospel nor secular music, but conscious music.

“I didn’t want to do gospel because I noticed many people start their careers doing gospel music, eventually quit to do secular music. That to me is embarrassing. I would rather bless people with my message,’’ he says.