For the avoidance of doubt, who is Anthony Achayo?

Anthony Odhiambo Achayo is a 22-year-old lad from Rarieda constituency, Siaya county. He’s a third-year student from Rongo University currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Communication and Media Studies.

What was growing up like?

Life was tolerable. I can’t whine or complain because my parents played their responsibilities well by demonstrating to me their unconditional love and support. My smile today is a reflection of their nice work!

You are now the acting General Representative in the school of Information, Communication, and Media Studies (INFOCOMS) at Rongo University. What inspired you to venture into such a lucrative position?

(Laughs). Having been in the school of INFOCOMS for the last year, I spotted some gaps that needed to be filled with someone who had a great passion for what the school majored in, that is, journalism. I felt that if the students got a chance to be led by such an individual then their welfare shall be well catered for. And without fear, I want to create and seal permanently my legacy.

What are some of your main roles?

As a general representative, my fundamental role is to make sure that our student’s welfare is well catered for. I also act as the intermediary between the students and the administration. My other role is to represent my school in the RUSA congress.

Describe your leadership style.

I enjoy sitting down with my fellow students whom I represent to get their opinions after which we discuss vividly how solutions can be reached.

What common challenges are leaders likely to encounter while in the line of duty? And how best can one overcome them?

Well, misunderstanding between the leaders and students is one of the major challenges that we experience. Therefore, we need to create ample time and understand one another for successful leadership.

You are also an incredible scribbler with several bylines in politics, business, lifestyle, and education. Tell us more about your writing journey.

Writing has been my passion since primary school. In my first year at the university, I experienced a greater transformation as far as writing is concerned when I met Mr. Jackson Ngari — a fellow communication student and a freelancer. Jack as most of the students calls him, mentored me in article writing for both online and print media. In the beginning, we joined hands with other three prolific writers to produce our first ever article which was published on one of the leading websites. That motivated me and today I am a renowned writer for major mainstream publications under the sun.

Larry McEnerney, a former program director at the University of Chicago’s Writing Program once said that writing is not all about conveying your ideas to the readers; it is about changing their ideas. How do you achieve that as a writer?

I always achieve this through writing on matters that I am very conversant with hence this enables me to write without limit and through this, I easily change my reader’s perception of the world.

Writing has indeed introduced you to innumerable opportunities. Share with us your latest grab.

Writing has unlocked for me uncountable doors. An essay competition that was organized by Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) offered me the chance to attend a four-day seminar at The Kenya School of Government, Nairobi. It was an honor and I felt motivated to pursue more and more.

On 11th June 2021 your article titled, “A free press means a more society; let media freedom reign” was published in the Daily Nation newspaper, and you were defending the freedom of journalists. How has the freedom of the press been undermined in the country? And what needs to be done to ensure that media freedom reigns forever?

Press freedom has been majorly undermined by those in power and even the general public has on several occasions been denying our journalists access to news sources. Journalists face violence and intimidation for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression. The range of threats they are confronted to include murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking, offline and online harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture. A free press benefits all of us because it informs citizens, contributing to a people’s pool of knowledge. It also provides citizens with a means of calling attention to violations of their rights. So journalists should be left free to do their job as long as they abide by the code of conduct for the practice of journalism.

As a leader and an avid writer, who has been your source of strength and inspiration?

Whoever has always been there to motivate me to keep on pressing stands to be my source of strength and inspiration to me.

Tell us the happiest day in your life so far.

The day my first article; ” How radio Maisha fired up my interest in journalism” was published in the Standard newspaper.

What about your most embarrassing moments?

(Laughs). Not really, I have never experienced any embarrassing moments because I am always keen on all my moves.

How do you spend your weekends?

Since I am a writer, I normally spend most of my weekends reading books and doing research for any of my upcoming feature stories. I am also an ingrained melophile, meaning the music is the soundtrack of my life.

Any advice to your fellow youths outta there?

Do whatever you are doing with a lot of passion when the opportunity shows up.

The blue star insider

BY MAXWELL KAMAU