Jeff Koinange is a household name in Kenya, synonymous with the "Oh my, oh my" catchphrase and his signature bench. However, in the inaugural segment of the digital series I Am, the veteran journalist stepped away from the news desk to share his own story.

The interview revealed a man whose path to success was marked by humble beginnings, creative risks, and a refusal to be defined by his family name.

A Secret Passion for the Stage

Long before he was an anchor, Koinange was a creative force in the theatre. While many remember him as a student at St. Mary’s School, his biggest high school achievement was not on the sports field.

In Form Six, he wrote a play that became a massive success. He didn't just write it; he took on the roles of producer, director, and actor.

The play was a triumph, winning awards for best playwright, best actor, and best actress. Jeff affirmed that if Hollywood comes calling, it will be hard for him to turn the opportunity down.

“Ff Hollywood comes calling, how will I turn it down?Allah Allah Allah!” he said repeatedly.

While he ultimately chose the newsroom over the silver screen, his theatrical background clearly laid the foundation for the storytelling style that would later make him a global star.

The 4,000-Shilling Start

Despite the common perception that his career began at the top, Koinange’s first professional steps were very modest. After finishing high school at 19, his mother could not afford to send him to college.

He took a job at a company in International Life House, where he worked as a messenger, a driver, and a personal assistant.

“My first job was a company at International Life House. I was a messenger, a driver and a PA – three jobs in one because we were like 4 0r 5 people working there. So, every single day, that’s what I would do.”

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His starting salary was just 4,000 Kenyan shillings. Koinange recalls this period with pride, noting that the pay was actually decent for the time because the company provided breakfast and lunch.

“At that time, I was 19, I had just left high school. The pay was like Ksh 4,000. This amount was decent money back then because we were provided with breakfirst and lunch. I was only using that money for transport and buy stuff at home,” he stated.

The "Dynasty" and the Phoenix

Koinange is often labelled as a "cool kid" or part of a "dynasty" because of his famous surname and prestigious schooling. Critics frequently suggest his success was handed to him.

During the interview, Koinange addressed these claims with a focus on his resilience rather than his roots.

"I always say I'm like a phoenix; I always rise out of the ashes,” he said.

He describes his life not as a "flat line" of success, but as a pulse with constant highs and lows. He has been fired, has "tarmacked" (hustled for work) in New York, and has had to rebuild his career multiple times.

To those who see only privilege, he simply says he must have "missed the memo."

Koinange’s message to his audience is one of persistence. "When you fall off that horse, you get up, you dust yourself off, get back on the damn horse and ride it," he says. It is this philosophy that keeps him standing today.