Former NTV Swahili news anchor Salim Swaleh is seeking job opportunities months after being dismissed from his role as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s Director of Press Service.
In a heartfelt social media post on Tuesday, November 19, Swaleh shared a video of his suits, expressing his longing to return to work.
“I miss putting on my suits and reporting to work every morning. Please offer me a job,” he wrote, tagging prominent local media houses.
Swaleh had resigned from NTV in October 2022 to accept a position with the Nakuru County government under Governor Susan Kihika. However, legal challenges hindered his appointment, leading him to take up the role with Mudavadi’s office instead.
“I consulted my friends, family, and seniors at Nation with whom I had built a rapport. We all concluded that the national-level offer would work,” he revealed in a past interview.
In a dramatic turn of events, Swaleh was arrested on June 22, 2024, over allegations of fraud. He was accused of conspiring with others to defraud an engineering consultancy of approximately Ksh 5.8 million by falsely promising to secure a stadium construction tender.
The arrest was part of a broader investigation into a network of fraudsters impersonating government officials in Mudavadi’s office to solicit bribes from foreign victims. Following his arrest, Swaleh was placed on compulsory leave, and his salary was halted.
The journalist has since expressed deep remorse and shared the financial difficulties he has faced, compounded by the ongoing legal challenges.
In August 2024, Swaleh made a public plea for forgiveness in an emotional video addressed to Mudavadi, describing the turmoil he has endured.
“Your excellency, you know you have been my father figure for the longest time. We have built an unmatched trust between us, and for the last one and a half years, I served you with zeal. I broke the trust, and I am truly sorry. The last one month has been so difficult for me,” Swaleh said.
The former anchor’s plea has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing sympathy for his plight while others continue to criticize his alleged involvement in fraudulent activities. Swaleh remains hopeful for a second chance to rebuild his career and life.
