School of Communication, Cinematic and Creative Arts

By Sandra Atieno, Samuel Mbugua, Cliff Ng’ang’a and Kyatha Imani-Makena

With a career that spans decades and continents and transcends the fast-paced changes of the media industry, Robi Koki Ochieng’ has rightfully earned her reputation as a master educator and consultant in the media space.

We walk into her office on a hot Thursday afternoon, the kind of heat that makes it so that the day seems to be moving slower than usual. This, however, did not deter us. Her office is a relatively small room with crisp white walls and a large desk taking up most of the space. In the corner sits her assistant on a small table that could use a coat of paint to bring it back to life. A slight cool breeze is fleeting through the windows but it does nothing to mitigate the heat, not with Robi and four enthusiastic students sharing the cramped space. Miss Koki is as comfortable as can be in her seat, a smile on her face despite the long day she has had after attending a Black History Month event. The striking red lipstick she wears that beautifully contrasts with her dark skin immediately draws you to her face. With the camera set up and everyone ready to listen, Sandra Atieno took her seat across from Robi, armed with the questions she had prepared to ask.

Robi Koki's career started in education. She was an English and Literature teacher in high school. She taught in schools that followed the Kenyan education system as well as the British education system. Her work as an educator started over thirty years ago and she continues to be a stellar lecturer even in the United States International University-Africa. She has a master's degree in Communication Studies that she got at the University of Nairobi. From there she stepped into the media and communications industry and she has never looked back. She taught management communication at the School of Government. She joined USIU-Africa in the year 2010, where she developed her niche.

“In the School of Government,” she says, “I was just a government officer; very prestigious, but in this space, I have been able to cut my niche. And my niche is very clear. I am known in the industry for this and that.”

As the chair of the media and communications department at USIU-Africa for slightly over a year, her day is packed with activity. She explains how her days differ from one another but the premise is that she has to manage people and procure equipment for the media students to use. Not only does she partner with other organizations to make sure students get the most out of their journalism degree, but she also does a lot of research. The unstructured nature of her days leaves her dealing with situations as they come. This is a testament to her leadership skills and her ability to problem-solve and brainstorm ideas to improve the media department. She desires that students from USIU-Africa leave the institution as multifunctional journalists.

“The journalist has to move from just being an employee to being a skilled entrepreneur,” she says, shaking her head in emphasis.

That is what guides her ventures at the university. She recently collaborated with other people to ensure that there is a podcast space at the university. On top of that, she was at the forefront during the revamping of the radio and television studios. Her passion for the students and her efforts in making sure that they are as all-rounded as the media industry demands are truly commendable.

Miss Koki does other work outside of USIU-Africa as well. She is a media viability consultant and has worked with over twenty radio stations to train them on viability. This involves training in human resources, digital trends in the media space and management of finances among other things. She is constantly interacting with people in the media industry and this helps her stay updated on the changes that happen over time. The media industry is versatile and is evolving faster than some people can keep up with, but not Miss Robi Koki. She is well-versed in the current trends. This comes as a result of having been a talking head for three years and having done over sixty-five online shows.

As an active and strong member of the Association of Media Women in Kenya, she is invited to speak at a lot of forums where trends and challenges in the industry are discussed. With the knowledge that she learns from these forums, she writes research papers and publishes them on academia.edu.

She has a particular interest in gender in the media industry. She has published research on women in leadership and the safety of journalists in the media industry among other things. When she joined the journalism department at USIU-Africa, she was the only woman among four other men. She learnt how to stand up for herself because it is common for women to be treated unfairly in the workplace. She was called aggressive when really, she was just being assertive in what she needed to do. Often, women in different professions speak about how difficult it is to stand up for themselves in fear of being labelled “aggressive”. However, it is important to overcome the fear of judgement and demand respect in the workplace. Miss Koki is passionate about making the world of women better and ensuring that women’s stories are told as accurately as possible. Even at USIU-Africa, she is known for unashamedly speaking up about equality.

Miss Koki has interacted with many students throughout her long career. She says that no matter how many skills she tries to instill in students, their activeness and initiative are ultimately what will set them apart from other people in the industry. She encourages USIU-Africa media students to embrace the opportunities that the university provides for them. She emphasizes that competence, knowledge and skills are what will make students survive in the media industry.

“There is not much the department can do about discipline, timekeeping, enthusiasm and passion,” she responds with a chuckle after being asked about the steps the media department is taking to make sure that the students get the skills required to survive as journalists in the outside world.

She describes the media industry as harsh, highly judgmental, very transitional and transactional. It requires one to have thick skin to survive the competitiveness and transitional nature of the industry. Having been in it for so long, she says it is the most interesting and versatile yet the most traumatizing and difficult space to be in. That is quite a stark contrast, which just shows that each area of profession has its highs and lows.

What Robi Koki Ochieng’ has achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Her impact has been felt not only in the journalism industry but also in the lives of the many students she has inspired over the years. She has left an indelible mark on the profession with every student taught, every research paper published and every conference attended. The values she has instilled in those she has mentored will remain constant even as the media industry continues to evolve. As the industry faces new challenges, she remains a beacon of hope, reminding us all that integrity, truth and the courage to speak up make up the beating heart of journalism