Newspapers are a fundamental part of the daily routines of many Kenyans. One of the credible newspapers is the Daily Nation. It is currently the highest circulated newspaper in the country, distributed to around 170,000 people daily. This number is so big that one must wonder how we receive a copy each day, without fail. Who writes the stories that we read? Who edits and approves them? Behind every Daily Nation issue is a team of professionals who work hard to satisfy their readers, and at the final stage of news story production is Pamella Sittoni.
Pamella is a woman of many firsts. Throughout her career in the media industry, she has broken one glass ceiling after the other, paving the way for other women. In 2000 she became the Daily Nation’s first female Chief Sub Editor; in 2005 she was the first female Managing Editor for The Standard’s daily newspaper; and most recently, in 2019, she was named the first female Managing Editor and Executive Editor for the Daily Nation. With these wins tightly secured under her belt, you would think that Pamella had carefully planned out each step of her career, but surprisingly, what is now a glittering career actually started out as a hobby.
Being Proactive
Back when she was in Mukumu Girls High School, Pamella embarked on one of her most memorable creative pursuits. After causally taking pictures and getting published in the Kenya Times, Pamella was inspired to start the school’s first journalism club. She encouraged her peers to join, and within no time it was a fully functional club. They wrote stories about local sports matches and rumours from neighbouring schools. The publication was an instant hit! Each time a new issue was released, both students and teachers crowded around the school noticeboard to read the latest news.
When Pamella completed high school, she was called to study Literature and Anthropology at the University of Nairobi. She did not think about pursuing journalism as a profession until she picked up the hobby once again in college.
From a Budding Journalist to a Professional
In her second year of university, Pamella was introduced to Amboka Andere, the editor of the Kenya Times, and this meeting rekindled her love for news stories. Eager to have an article published in the newspaper, she pitched a news piece and promised to have it ready within a week. She wanted to investigate the lives of expectant campus girls, exploring how life on campus was for them. With no time to waste, Pamella set to work. She ran around campus, interviewing any of the soon to be mothers who would talk to her. Once satisfied with her research she wrote down her story by hand. She returned to the Kenya Times headquarters the following Saturday and Amboka approved her story, and then came the second part of her assignment – the more difficult part. She sat at a typewriter from morning up until 6pm, painstakingly typing out the words of what would be her first piece in a national newspaper. The story was published on a full page the next Sunday morning. Pamella could hardly believe it, but she knew that she had found her path.
She proactively sought newsworthy stories and continued writing for the Kenya Times. After she completed her undergraduate degree, she applied for a Postgraduate Diploma at the School of Journalism. The programme was highly competitive – only 24 applicants were accepted. Owing to her passion, skills and attitude, Pamella was granted a place in the programme, and the rest is history. She has since broken barrier after barrier and reached what seemed like impossible heights in her industry for a woman.
Although hers is a high-pressure job, you would not be able to tell from her calm demeanour. She takes it all in stride and delivers, ensuring wananchi receive their daily newspapers without fail.
From starting a journalism club in high school to breaking barriers for Kenyan women in media, we celebrate this female icon for all she has done and will continue to do.
#KeFemaleFirsts
