KIHUMBA KAMOTHO BIOGRAPHY: FORMER TSC HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO BIOGRAPHY
The media fraternity and the Teachers Service Commission, TSC are mourning the loss of Kihumba Kamotho. Till he died, on July 27, 2020, at the Mater Hospital, Kihumba Kamotho was working at the TSC communications department which he headed until last year before passing the baton to Ms. Beatrice Wababu.
Kihumba succumbed to pneumonia-related complications while receiving treatment at the Mater Hospital.
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO’S WRITING CAREER
He briefly worked at the National Media Group, NMG as a writer in the year 1992.
He also served as an education writer, chief sub-editor, and senior editor at the Standard Media Group between 1994-2002 when he joined the TSC secretariat.
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO, TSC HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
He served as the head of communications at the Teachers Service Commission, TSC. At TSC, he enunciated policies and guidelines through newspaper articles and phone calls with journalists.
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO’S TEACHING CAREER
He once worked as a secondary school teacher before joining NMG and later SMG. This explains his pet name “Mwalimu.”
KNUT Secretary General Mr. Wilson Sossion described him as a gifted professional, resourceful, and dedicated to his duty.
“He was meticulous in his work at the TSC. We have lost a dedicated public servant who engaged us all in the teaching service,” said Sossion.
Speaking of engagement, Mr. Kamotho engaged with teachers’ unions having served the Commission during the turbulent times of 50-60 percent.
On May 20, 2019, for instance, KNUT reported that “TSC VIA ITS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, HAS AGAIN INSULTED TEACHERS BY SAYING THAT DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS DO NOT EARN TEACHERS A PROMOTION”
Kihumba, in an article that featured in The Daily Nation, attacked a primary school teacher who had written to the TSC to express his disappointment after the Commission gave a raw deal to P1 teachers who had gone for higher qualifications.
In his response, Kihumba attacks the teacher claiming that the agitation for teachers with degrees to get promotions is a ploy by KNUT to get more union dues.
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO FAMILY
He has left behind a wife, Catherine, and four children.
KIHUMBA KAMOTHO AGE
He died at the age of 56 on Monday, July 27, 2020, while receiving treatment at the Mater Hospital after developing pneumonia-related complications.
TRIBUTE TO FORMER TSC HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER KIHUMBA KAMOTHO
Former TSC Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Sogomo described him as a polite, calculating, passionate, and foresighted man.
He could navigate through complex academic arguments which he would simplify to the understanding of teachers.
In a nutshell, Sogomo said that the teaching fraternity is poorer without him.
Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament Kabando wa Kabando also described Mr. Kamotho as a fiercely independent man who believed and stuck to professional ethics.
David Aduda, NMG’s long-serving education editor described him as one of the best education writers of all time.
“he was insightful, calm, reflective,, and authoritative. He never sensationalized a story or published it before verification,” said Aduda.
He also added that after Kamotho left the newsroom, he would still reach out to him for insights on the stories to follow.
