Just like most of his colleagues, Citizen TV news anchor Trevor Ombija doesn’t keep all his eggs in one basket.
Other than presenting the news bulletin on Citizen TV, Ombija is also the senior partner at Crestwood Marketing and Communications Ltd.
“Crestwood Marketing and Communications Ltd is an integrated communications agency that endeavors to professionally solve sophisticated business and communications problems by strategically utilizing data-driven and other exceptional approaches to enhance and protect brands and reputations,” the company describes itself.
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Trevor Ombija and David Osiany during a brainstorming session at Crestwood offices in Kilimani
When he is not on the Monday Report or Day Break Show, the anchor is coming up with communication strategies for his clients.
His main focus is on public and media relations, given his vast experience in the media industry.
Having started his career as a junior assignment editor at the China Central Television Africa Bureau, now CGTN, Trevor has risen to become one of the most sought-after media practitioners in Kenya.
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Citizen TV anchor Trevor Ombija
The communications firm was founded by David Osiany who was recently appointed as a Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade & Enterprise Development.
The company deals with high-end clients such as corporates and government institutions among them the Ministry of Health, Kenya Wildlife Services and other government departments.
“Crestwood was tasked with branding and managing communications of the Ministry of Health’s concurrent session at the International Conference of Population and Development 2019 (ICPD25) in Nairobi.
“Their end-to-end management, including design, production and emceeing of the high-level Ministerial event was professional and remarkable,” said Stephen Muleshe, the Head of Department of Intergovernmental Relations and Regional Coordination at the Ministry of Health.
Trevor joins media celebrities with lucrative side hustles such as Lilian Muli and Betty Kyallo who run high-end salons in the city, Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla who own a film company.
Others include Jalang’o who runs a media company and Ken Mijungu who has a car hire company and law consultancy firm.
Meanwhile, William Shakespeare, the legendary English playwright once quipped that some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon. In Kenya, to be born a Koinange is almost a sure way to greatness if history is anything to go by.
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Attorney General Paul Kihara (L), the late Mbiu Koinange and media personality Jeff Koinange.
For as long as Kenya has existed, the Koinanges have been a critical part of its history, occupying positions of power in government and in the private sector.
The family is one that has managed to stay in power for over 100 years since the days of Senior Chief Koinange, an administrator in the colonial government.
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The late cabinet Minister Mbiu Koinange (L) and president Jomo Kenyatta in a past photo
The story begins with Koinange Wa Mbiyu who was appointed as headman in 1921 by the colonial government. It was just a year after Kenya had been declared a British colony with headmen being some of the most powerful officials.
17 years later, he was appointed as the Senior chief before serving as an adviser on African affairs to the DC until 1949 when he retired.
In 1952, however, he was detained by the colonial government for exploitation of land in the Central Province of Kenya and was only released in 1960. At this time, however, his health had deteriorated and died shortly at the age of 95.
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Mbiyu Koinange (R) who served as a minister in first president Jomo Kenyatta’s government.
He was the patriarch of the Koinange family. He had six wives and a number of children. One of his daughters, Grace Wanjiku, got married to Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta in 1946, becoming the third wife.
Wanjiku, however, died while giving birth to Jeni Wambui in 1951. Her daughter, Jeni Wambui survived and was adopted by Kenyatta’s fourth wife, Mama Ngina.
Wambui is the mother to Soiya, Nana and Jomo Gecaga. Nana and Jomo are currently serving in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in senior government positions.
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Nana is the CEO of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), a building owned by the government of Kenya. The building hosts conferences, concerts and exhibitions.
On the other hand, Jomo Gecaga is the president’s private secretary.
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The late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange
Also serving in Uhuru’s administration is Attorney General Paul Kariuki. He is the son of Lilian Wairimu, a daughter of senior chief Koinange.
Senior chief Koinange’s son Mbiyu Koinange served in first president Jomo Kenyatta’s administration as his right-hand man and in government for 16 years.
During this time, he served as the Minister of State for Education, External Affairs, Pan-African Affairs, and Minister of State in the Office of the President. He was the first Kenyan to get a bachelor’s degree. He also served as MP for Kiambaa constituency.
At his height, Mbiyu was so powerful that he is reported to have refused to sleep in the same room with any of his wives out to fear that he would reveal state secrets in his sleep.
Another of Senior Chief Koinange’s son is Fred Mbiyu Koinange, who was the first Kenyan of African descent to own a petrol station. He was the father of media personality Jeff Koinange. Jeff has been a heavyweight in the Kenyan media industry for two decades.
In 2013, the media personality confirmed that the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange was part of the senior chief family after he informed that they were cousins. Paul was the son of John Karuga Koinange (Senior Chief’s son) who served as Kiambaa Senator between 1963 and 1966.
Wilfred Koinange, a powerful Finance PS in President Daniel arap Moi’s government, was also a member of the Koinange family. He was the son of Charles Karuga, another of the Senior Chief’s sons who served as Eastern PC in the 1960s.
The family has continued to build ties with other powerful families. For instance, Mama Ngina’s brother, George Muhoho, married Jeni Njeri Koinange, daughter of Senator John Koinange - cementing ties to the powerful family of Senior Chief Muhoho as well as that of the Kenyatta clan.
