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HOW THE ESTATE YOU LIVE IN NAIROBI REVEALS YOUR SALARY
If you have a friend in Nairobi, don’t ask them how much they earn, ask them where they live. If someone tells you that they live around Westlands,huyo haishi westlands,she lives in Kinoo or Kangemi.But if she tells you she lives in Westlands,she means it.You can’t be earning Ksh 1 million na unakaa Kibra.You can’t tell someone you are making Ksh 50,000 yet you live in Runda unless you’re living with a relative who pays the rent.
Below is the income of people living in Nairobi based on their estates.
Pipeline---Ksh 80,000 and below
Langata---Ksh100,000 to Ksh200,000
Tassia—Ksh100,000 and below
Mkuru Kwa Njenga---Ksh10,000 to Ksh 30,000
Imara Daima---Ksh 150,000 and below
Kibra---Ksh 30,000 and below
Kariobangi—Ksh40,000 and below
Kayole---Ksh60,000 and below
Kangemi---Ksh50,000 and below
Utawala---Ksh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Umoja---Ksh90,000 and below
Donholm---Ksh200,000 and below
Githurai---Ksh70,000 and below
Rongai---Ksh120,000 and below
Kinoo—Ksh 60,000 to Ksh 150,000
Runda---Ksh 600,000 and above
Karen---Ksh 600,000 and above
Muthaiga---Ksh 700,000 and above
Lavington---Ksh 500,000 and above
Kilimani—Ksh 250,000 and above
Kileleshwa—Ksh 250,000 and above
Ngong---Ksh 60,000 to Ksh 150,000
Kitengela---Ksh 40,000 to Ksh 200,000
Hurlingham---Ksh 200,000 and above
Korogocho—Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 30,000
South B---Ksh 120,000 to Ksh 250,000
South C---Ksh 120,000 to Ksh 250,000

JIMMI GATHU CLEANS THE AIRWAVES

You can be fired even at the peak of your career and be replaced immediately. This is what befell Jimmi Gathu in 2016 when he was fired from Nation FM at a time when his show was among the top with impressive numbers. Ever since he joined media in the late 1980s, Gathu had never been kicked out and neither had he looked for a job. Its the stations that came for him. He learnt the harsh realities of life when he lost his job. On the fateful day, he left his house at 4:30AM for his Breakfast Show and, by 8:30am, he was jobless. He saw darkness thereafter. A man who had enjoyed an luxurious career.

Anyway, on the positive side, this is a man that generously and fiercely fought for the local music industry and his friends, for he had a musicial background. His first song was released in 1989 and it's what propelled him to land a TV gig at KBC and later KTN on inception. He used his influence and power at different media houses to vouch for people he didnt know and to promote local songs. Gathu gave the late Lorna Irungu, Eve D'Souza, Johnston Mwakazi, Mwalimu Kingangi, Muthoni Bwika and Yvonne Okwara their first media gigs by just listening to their voices despite them having no media backgrounds. He believed in them and risked putting them on air, as he wanted a blend of intelligent presenters from diverse professional backgrounds.

While at KTN, he used the company's equipment to shoot Eric Wainaina's first song. He would risk his job at Capital FM as the "Hits not Homework" presenter to play Jua Cali and Nonini's first songs. He recalls how two skinny men had followed him to the lift requesting that he plays their song. The two were Jua Cali and his producer Clemo. Gathu would play the song against the company's policy that only played Rock Songs. He received a stern warning for this, the second strike, but still insisted on giving local music airplay. He is also the one who discovered Nameless through a Mid morning singing challenge show still at Capital FM.

At one time, while hosting a political talk show at Kiss FM, he says that he had heated discussions and this is where he discovered Hassan Joho, and Kimani Ichungwa who announced their political intentions. He would also host Uhuru Kenyatta, then a nominated MP on the show too. The former IEBC chair Isaak Hassan was also a frequent and regular caller at the show.

Talk of those who mention your name in rooms where you are not part of. Single phone calls would give gigs to his friends after his recommendations. Ted Josiah, Big Ted and Sanaipei Tande are some of the referrals he made to propel them to higher heights. Ted was a bedroom pianist before Gathu introduced him to a recording studio, Tande had no acting intentions until Jimmi referred her while Big Ted would land an MC gig for a TNA party through him and today he is a Kenyan envoy in the United States. Just a phone call away!

These revelations were spilled during a show on a Youtube channel called CLEANING THE AIRWAVES hosted by Richard Njau aka A-Star, who is a former Gospel Musician. You can catch the episodes on the channel. You won't regret your time. This is one of my best channels that keeps me busy. The show is worth watching as it not only talks about foundational media and music elements, but also teaches about life; rise and fall of a person.