Over the years, Larry Madowo has grown right before our eyes. Career wise that is. From KTN to NTV to CNBC Africa and back to NTV. He is bold, outspoken and a few people I know can say he is over the top or in your face with a know- it all kind of attitude.
On his blog which was not working while writing this, Larry has a personal message “I want to hear from you. Whether it's hate mail, just want to say hi or tell me how awesome I am (Of course I know I am)”
However cocky that may seem, you know Larry is good at what he does and watching the
Trend has becoming something to look forward to on Fridays.
He has been accused of trying to ape CNN’s Richard Quest; Larry has refuted the claims saying, “I have been accused of many things some that border on hilarity. You cannot be a Richard Quest, he is Richard Quest, he has his style and I have my own. I do learn from him and other top business journalists around the world and there is nothing bad with that.
Larry Madowo, NTV Anchor
After Joining Daystar University for a four- year communication degree, Larry graduated after six years. In between his studies Larry had three high profile jobs as a TV reporter and anchor. Larry jokingly refers himself as ‘a professional dropout’, having dropped classes three times.
“Its coz of money, work and just because I was young and foolish,” says Larry.
In a talk show at Daystar University, Larry said he didn’t like the idea of working for a Kenyan TV (He was at CNBC then) “I love walking down on the street and no one would recognize me,” he said. “I would take a matatu and enjoy the ride, walk to a Kenchic and eat there.
But it seems lady luck was not on his side for he is now back to NTV. Isn’t it a blessing to have a choice of which country to work in? Larry, not many of us have that kind of luxury.
The technical savvy anchor says that as a young boy growing up in the village, he would buy meat wrapped in a newspaper and end up reading the paper before cutting the meat.
He confesses he has an attention span of a three year old and loves travelling just to meet new people and learn more. “The more I travel and meet new people; I realize I don’t know much.”
What would he have been if not a journalist? “I would probably had become a lawyer if I didn’t take up journalism,” But it’s a known fact that while Larry was at St Gabriel’s Seminary School in Kisumu, he developed an ambition to become a Catholic priest. Yes, he did! But he dropped those ambitions and gave his life to journalism.
In an interview with Philip Mwaniki, Larry admitted to receive a lot of criticism from twitter (Where he has 85, 033 followers) “That is the one place there are so many people who don’t like me but I never meet them when I am out of the office. Even on Facebook, there isn’t that kind of hatred as is on Twitter but that’s to be expected as people hide behind keyboards and talk smack.
I appreciate criticism, it is the only way to grow but it has to be objective and well intentioned. I am criticised even about the length of my trouser and colour of shirt. What has that got to do with my ability to do business news? I am used to that so it doesn’t really bother me one bit. Most people hate because they don’t want to be seen as fans and it is mostly a Kenyan thing.”
So, has fame gotten into his head? My personality has never changed and anybody who knows me will tell you that. I am just heavily opinionated and when I enter a room you will notice me and that is the same personality I brought to TV.
How does the technical editor at NTV unwind I read anything I come across, I am a cartoon buff, hang out with friends and I am a passive rugby fan.
He has revolutionised the way anchors should handle themselves before the camera. He is not afraid to be goofy or funny or hide off his know it all kind of attitude, he is actually normal. Larry makes TV worth watching.
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