Navigating Knowledge: A Vet’s Journey Through Media and Communication

I graduated with a BVM degree from the University of Nairobi in December 1994. It was a day of great celebration, the culmination of four intense years of veterinary training. In my view, few degrees can match the rigor of veterinary studies in Kenya—perhaps even across Africa. There is no specialization; you must master ten common domestic animals: the cow, goat, sheep, dog, cat, donkey, chicken, pig, horse, and camel.

Even with intense study and endless reading, oral and written exams always had the potential for surprise—like a hidden snake in the grass. I remember a classmate being asked how much urine a rabbit produces daily. How could anyone prepare for that? His attempt at an educated guess turned out to be laughably wrong.

After graduation, I took a year off to work with Focus-Kenya, a Christian NGO. In 1995, I landed my first job—not as a vet, but as a medical representative for Amoun Pharmaceuticals in Mombasa. Never having lived in Kenya’s coastal paradise, I leapt at the chance. Evenings were spent at Mama Ngina Drive, soaking in the ocean breeze.

Mombasa is the culinary heart of Kenya, and I indulged in coastal delicacies: kebabs, mkate mayayi, exotic fish, coconut water, roasted cassava, and a variety of flavorful rice dishes. My mother still insists she has never seen me healthier or happier than during my time in Mombasa.I shared a cramped, one-room home in Magongo with my schoolmate Oliver Kirubai and three other friends. It was so warm we couldn’t sleep with the windows closed!

At work, I learned fast. Marketing pharmaceuticals to doctors and pharmacists was no easy task. One particular encounter stands out: I was at Mombasa Hospital, presenting Cardioguard and Delay Tiazem to Dr. J.B. Okanga, a renowned cardiologist. When he asked, “Young man, do you know what heart disease is?” I responded with the confidence instilled by endless rehearsals with my supervisor. But Dr. Okanga wasn’t convinced. His lecture on the need for original research into generics reminded me that expertise was not something I could fake.

I spent seven years as a medical representative, traveling across Kenya and engaging with over 2,000 doctors and countless pharmacists. By 2001, I had grown tired of the routine. Doctors began to refer to me by the products I sold: “Ah, Mr. Forceval, welcome!” a surgeon would say, having prescribed the supplement often. And then there was the increasing competition—aggressive sales reps who disregarded professional boundaries. One even waited for a doctor outside the restroom!

In 2001, newly married and turning 32, I decided to change paths. Instead of an MBA like many of my peers, I enrolled in a postgraduate diploma at the School of Journalism, University of Nairobi. I had applied back in 1994 but didn’t make the cut due to intense competition. This time, I secured a spot in the evening stream.

It was an exhilarating two years, learning from Kenyan media legends like Joe Kadhi, Magayu Magayu, Edwin Nyutho, Absalom Mutere, Zeke Waweru, Ochilo Omolo, Khakudu Agunda, and Evan Mwangi. There were no female lecturers during my time, but these men fostered my discovery as a writer and communicator.

After my diploma, I ambitiously enrolled for a master’s degree at City University, London. Despite being warned that attending without a scholarship was reckless, I took the plunge. I resigned from McNaughton Limited, gathered Ksh 750,000, and set off for London with only a third of what I needed for tuition and living expenses.

I stayed with my friend Peter Oyugi and his wife Cecilia before moving to Walthamstow in East London. City University was a fascinating experience—lecturers quoting their own published work! But my financial shortfall became glaring. Halfway through my dissertation, I was cut off for non-payment.

I found myself working three jobs: cleaning offices at 4:00 AM, serving as a room attendant at the Chamberlain Hotel, and doing weekend security work. The grind was exhausting, but I still couldn’t make ends meet while supporting my wife and daughter back in Kenya.

In 2004, weary of the struggle, I returned to Kenya and soon joined Longman Kenya as a production coordinator, thanks to my school of journalism classmate Kakai Karani, who was the general manager. Between 2004 and 2019, I thrived in the publishing world, moving from Longman to East African Educational Publishers and eventually to Oxford University Press. I gained broad experience across production, sales, marketing, educational publishing, and general management.

After eight years as a production manager at Oxford, I took early retirement in 2019. While I enjoyed my job, I saw the writing on the wall: my salary had become a significant cost, and I knew the company would soon look to cut costs. In 2020, I shifted to communication management at KCB Foundation before moving to GIZ Uganda in 2022 to work in knowledge management.

As I approach 56, I look back on an exciting career filled with highs and very few lows. Working with GIZ Uganda’s One Health program rekindled my connection to veterinary medicine. This led to the birth of Vetmedia Magazine—a platform to serve the veterinary profession. I was also able to gain my MA in Mass Communication from Liverpool John Moores University.

Vetmedia isn’t my first foray into magazine publishing. I once launched Christian Gold, a Christian magazine, and later helped founded Animal Focus under the Kenya Veterinary Association. Though these ventures faced challenges, they deepened my passion for magazine publishing and gave me a grounding in the basics of magazine publishing.

My hope for Vetmedia Magazine is that it becomes the home of veterinary storytelling. This magazine is for vets, by vets, with stories that inform, educate, and entertain. I envision it as a forum where veterinarians can learn about one another and forge lifelong collaborations.