Former NTV editor Emmanuel Juma lands top government job

By Peter Ochieng

Former NTV editor and producer Emmanuel Juma has landed a top communications job in president William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.

Juma is now the Head of Communication, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

His appointment was confirmed by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) in charge of the Ministry, Alfred Mutua.

“I have today welcomed renowned journalist and editor/producer Mr. @EmmanuelJuma1 as the Ministry’s Head of Communication. Mr. Juma brings a wealth of experience in all media areas and has the personality, creativity and drive to enable the Ministry to communicate its Foreign and Diaspora positions more effectively,” Mutua wrote on X (Twitter).

He said starting next month, they will hold regular press conferences to update Kenyans on foreign and diaspora matters.

“To start with, the Ministry under my leadership will hold regular press conferences starting from September to brief the nation on foreign and diaspora matters. The media sessions, to be named the foreign brief, will be presided over either by myself or in my absence, by either of the Ministry’s two Principal Secretaries,” added the former Machakos governor.

Before being elected governor in 2013, Mutua was the government spokesperson.

He held weekly press briefings with the media to update the country on various issues.

Juma is widely known for the popular satire BullsEye show, which he hosted every Friday evening on NTV.

Emmanuel Juma left NTV in September, 2021.

At the time, he was the Managing Editor of Nation Media Group's broadcasting division having risen through the ranks over the years.

CS Mutua follows in the footsteps of his Interior counterpart Abraham Kithure Kindiki, who also has a Head of Communication in his Ministry.

The position is held by former Citizen TV political editor Francis Gachuri.

He was appointed in March, 2023.