About a decade ago, it was fashionable for many Kenyan high school students to dream of becoming doctors, lawyers, or engineers. In fact, the majority of bright students generally chose medicine as the first course selection and then engineering or law as an alternative career. However, those days seem to be coming to an end, as many bright students now seem to have other career aspirations.

Suddenly, new careers have emerged and many young people are beginning to take notice. Take a look at the radio and television presenters. Many radio broadcasters, like Kiss FM host Carol Mutoko, make a six-figure income that will put the salaries of professionals in so-called lucrative careers to shame. Imagine the kind of salaries Maina Kageni and Churchill earn from Classic 105. There is no question that they earn more than a doctor or an engineer given their age and level of experience. A decade ago, if you told your parents that you wanted to become a radio or television host, they would have dismissed your career choice as reckless.

It seems that we are in fact living in different times. In fact, some lawyers have chosen to leave their profession and become radio presenters. Angie from Easy FM is an example that springs to mind quickly. Given that careers in the media have such high pay and benefits, it is not surprising that many young people are beginning to diversify their career options. Easy FM’s Munene Nyagah, who quit as a teacher to become an Easy FM host, is a classic case of media personalities leaving the classroom for the media industry. Citizen TV presenters like Swalim Mdoe and Julie Gichuru exemplify the kind of glamor that many young people think is found in the media industry and therefore there is a fascination with the media industry. And of course they have the chance to become real Kenyan celebrities.