This archive report was first published on 13 September 2021.
Lizz Ntonjira Mutuma, Global Communication Director at Amref Health Africa, has had a remarkable career journey. Born in Meru County, she grew up in a family of civil servants and developed a passion for storytelling at a young age.
After completing her law degree from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Ntonjira pursued a postgraduate diploma in public relations and a master's degree in public policy and management from Strathmore University. She is also a Public Policy Management Fellow of Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States and a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders in 2015.
As a child, Ntonjira wanted to be a pilot, but she soon realized that she needed to be good at maths and physics, which wasn't her forte. She decided to become a lawyer, but eventually found her true calling in strategic communication and policy implementation.
With a strong background in writing, Ntonjira started her career as a news anchor at K24 at the age of 19, making her one of the youngest news anchors in the country at the time. She also volunteered at a PR company and wrote a regular column for the Daily Nation during her first year on campus in 2005.
Ntonjira's career has not been without its challenges. As a young woman in senior leadership, she has faced bias due to her age and gender. However, she has used these experiences as a catalyst for her accomplishments and has stayed true to herself, standing her ground and asking uncomfortable questions when necessary.
Looking back, Ntonjira attributes her growth to taking risks and trusting her instincts. She recalls leaving a permanent job for a three-year contract, which was met with skepticism by her peers and even her mother. However, her analysis showed that the contract job would help her meet her long-term goals faster.
As a message to the Kenyan youth, Ntonjira advises them to focus on self-improvement and not compare themselves to others. She encourages them to challenge and empower themselves with other people's stories and to be ready to compete with who they were yesterday.
