Silas Nyanchwani
1715 E Main,WA
Summary
Highly resourceful and focused Communication and Public Relations Professional with exceptional capabilities. With over 16 years of experience in Public Relations and Journalism, I have a strong background in writing and editing for top Kenyan media outlets and renowned international publications. Additionally, I have contributed my expertise as an educator, teaching in various local universities and conducting corporate training sessions on media-related subjects, branding, leadership, and content creation.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Media Consultant
Columbia University (NY), Global Centres
- Current
- Media Consultant for Columbia University’s Global Centre for their Nairobi (sub-Saharan office.) Helped cover their activities in the region in the local media.
Head of Corporate Communications
Fintech Association of Kenya
02.2023 - Current
- Presently in charge of all internal and external communications of the Fintech Association of Kenya. My roles include drafting speeches for the chairperson, and other departmental heads, writing as well supervising the production of various op-eds in line with instructions from the president, the chairperson of the organization, and other partners. I help in the drafting of press releases and other media-related literature for the association. Additionally, I am a liaison officer between the association and various partners and stakeholders in the Finance and Technology landscape as well as policymakers. Also, I am in charge of content production for the social media accounts of the association.
- Https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-association-of-kenya/
Contributor
The Elephant & Viewpoints Kenya
06.2017 - Current
- Contributed several essays to The Elephant (an online platform for engaging citizens to reflect, re-member, and re-envision their society by interrogating the past, and the present, to fashion a future). I have contributed quarterly over the last two years to their “Reflection Series”.
- Contributed to the Viewpoints; an online journal of opinion that focuses exclusively on the Republic of Kenya-the country’s politics, current events, history, economics, culture, lifestyles, environment, education, and technology.
Content Editor
Gram Media
01.2017 - Current
- Producing and overseeing the production of content for various online outlets owned by Gram Media, mainly Nairobi Cool, Nairobi Review, and Cool Men Magazine, the websites as well as the social media sites of the platforms, and guiding writers and reporters on content production. Managed over production of 300 articles and short videos for the sites.
Adjunct lecturer
Riara University
09.2016 - Current
- News Writing and Reporting| Editing| Online Journalism| Online Research and Writing| Feature & Writing|
Correspondence Writing Masterclass Courses
06.2015 - Current
- Provided a voluntary online correspondence course and I have taught 5-10 students every quarter. I teach them the basics of journalism, column writing, and creative writing. At least 10 of them, have been published in leading media houses out of the lessons they took.
Media Consultant
Irish Embassy of Kenya
01.2015 - Current
- Media consultant for the Irish Embassy. Since Ireland reopened their embassy in Kenya after a 26-year absence, I have helped with the documenting of their comeback and success in the local media. I have especially been critical in the coverage of their Young Scientist Kenya; an initiative that gives young Kenyans an opportunity to demonstrate their innovative skills and showcase their scientific talents through a National Science and Technology competition. The initiative is aimed at encouraging the uptake of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) among high school students. It is an initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ireland through the Embassy with the support of Safaricom and other partners. Former president Uhuru Kenyatta is the patron of the project.
Communications Advisor
Ministry of Health in Partnership with PATH
10.2021 - 12.2022
- Communications Advisor to the Acting Director of Health at the Ministry for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth. Advised the Director on a day-to-day basis on how to communicate technical medical and health-related ideas to various stakeholders, the media, and the public, especially, Covid-19 and Malaria-related communication.
Lead PR Consultant
Digital Lenders Association of Kenya (DLAK)
09.2019 - 12.2021
- Head of the team that handled the Public Relations for the Digital Lenders Association of Kenya (DLAK, later renamed to Digital Financial Services Association of Kenya-DFSAK). Increased the visibility of the umbrella body of digital lenders in Kenya in the media, helping the public understand the role digital lenders play in the economy. I helped with content creation for various platforms (mainstream and digital), and coverage of their activities for the media as well as lobbied for favourable policies with relevant regulatory bodies in the country, more so, the National Assembly and the Central Bank of Kenya.
Media Consultant
National AIDS Control Council (NACC)
01.2021 - 01.2021
- Maisha Conference 2021 Media Consultant for digital media sensitization. Covered the week-long conference, creating content for the social media feeds of the 2021 NACC’s Maisha Conference.
Staff Writer, Columnist
Standard Media Group
01.2013 - 01.2020
- As a staff writer, I wrote for various publications of the group. Worked as a reporter mainly for the Weekend Editions and The Nairobian, covering diverse topics ranging from health, education, public transport, and the city at large. As a feature writer, I have mostly covered lifestyle issues for the weekend magazines of the group, Eve Woman, Sunday Magazine, and the Nairobian.
- Run three different and successful columns for the last 8 years.
Creative Garage, Nairobi
07.2019 - 07.2019
- Offered a Creative Writing Master Class at the Creative Garage, Nairobi.
Jumia Staff Training
01.2019 - 01.2019
- Coached the Jumia Staff (Departmental Heads) on “Leadership in a Time of Crisis.”
Bidco Africa Limited
09.2017 - 01.2019
- I helped in drafting speeches and op-eds for the Director of Bidco Africa for the local dailies as well as other appearances in the media. Worked with their marketing department, helping with content production that helped inform consumers about their new products as well as sell products.
Hivi Sasa Training
04.2018 - 04.2018
- Trained their in-house journalists and correspondents on writing provocative news items and articles that can promote more readership and feedback. Hivi Sasa is a Media Start-up, based in Lavington, Nairobi.
Brand Kenya
01.2018 - 01.2018
- Worked with Brand Kenya in their Kenyan Yearbook as a consulting contributor to their Moi Cabinet Project, writing profiles of seven members of President Moi’s cabinet.
Adjunct lecturer
Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture and Technology & Zetech College Branch
01.2013 - 09.2013
- Feature Writing| News Writing |Media and Society| Public Relations.
Freelance Writer/ Reporter
01.2007 - 01.2013
- Published in Leading Kenyan Dailies & International Publications, such as The Nation, The Standard, People, and Adam magazine. Specialized in literary reviews, lifestyle topics, and in-depth features on witchcraft, contraception, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). My travel stories and short fiction have been featured in The East African, a renowned regional newspaper under Nation Media. Additionally, I’ve served as the African correspondent for The Millennium Post, a New Delhi-based newspaper. My work has also been published in the United States and South Africa.
- Other relevant experience
- Served as an editorial consultant for several NGOs, non-profits, and corporate heads. Notably, WACREP in South Sudan, the International Finance Corporation (World Bank), and the International Development Law Organization.
- Author of five books (2 fiction and two nonfiction). I have also helped in the writing and editing of three biographies of Kenyan public figures.
Education
Certificate - Sustainability and Climate Risk Management
Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)
Master of Science - Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
New York, N.Y05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Communication & Literature (Double Major)
University of Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya12.2011
Diploma - IT
Chrisco Education Centre
10.2006
Skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Communication/Campaigning/Networking
- Proficient in three languages: English, Swahili, and French
- Content Creation/dissemination (print, audio-visual)
- Copy-editing
- Public Relations
- Research
- Profile Writing
- Team Player
- News writing and reporting
- Innovative
- Teamwork
- Active Social Media influencer (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram)
Timeline
Head of Corporate Communications
Fintech Association of Kenya
02.2023 - Current
Communications Advisor
Ministry of Health in Partnership with PATH
10.2021 - 12.2022
Media Consultant
National AIDS Control Council (NACC)
01.2021 - 01.2021
Lead PR Consultant
Digital Lenders Association of Kenya (DLAK)
09.2019 - 12.2021
Creative Garage, Nairobi
07.2019 - 07.2019
Jumia Staff Training
01.2019 - 01.2019
Hivi Sasa Training
04.2018 - 04.2018
Brand Kenya
01.2018 - 01.2018
Bidco Africa Limited
09.2017 - 01.2019
Contributor
The Elephant & Viewpoints Kenya
06.2017 - Current
Content Editor
Gram Media
01.2017 - Current
Adjunct lecturer
Riara University
09.2016 - Current
Correspondence Writing Masterclass Courses
06.2015 - Current
Media Consultant
Irish Embassy of Kenya
01.2015 - Current
Staff Writer, Columnist
Standard Media Group
01.2013 - 01.2020
Adjunct lecturer
Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture and Technology & Zetech College Branch
01.2013 - 09.2013
Freelance Writer/ Reporter
01.2007 - 01.2013
Media Consultant
Columbia University (NY), Global Centres
- Current
Master of Science - Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Bachelor of Arts - Communication & Literature (Double Major)
University of Nairobi
Diploma - IT
Chrisco Education Centre
Certificate - Sustainability and Climate Risk Management
Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)