Jane Gitau: An Award-Winning Communications and Public Relations Professional

Published on Dec. 23, 2024, 8:22 p.m.

Jane Gitau is a communications specialist with experience in communicating in the environmental, academic, food security, human rights and religious sectors. She has had the honour of leading the public relations profession on three levels – country, continental and global. In 2022, she was recognized and awarded Warrior of Public Relations by the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) in the Development Category for her outstanding contribution to the PR industry, an award bestowed upon only 22 professionals who have influenced the industry in the last 50 years. Jane is currently working for a parastatal in Kitale where she heads the communications function. She is a Board member of Trans World Radio, an evangelical Christian media broadcaster. With a group of environmental enthusiasts, they have started a citizen science initiative chaired by Jane. Previously, she was chairing the Board of the Green Belt Movement founded by the late Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai (2020-2023), the Public Relations Society of Kenya (2014- 2019) and the renewed Chevening Kenya Alumni Association (2015-2022). She also served as Vice Chair of the Kenya Government taskforce on improving government communications (2019) dubbed in media circles the ‘Makali Commission’. Further, she served two terms as Secretary General of the Africa Public Relations Association and represented Africa for two terms at the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management (GA). What was your Chevening Cohort, what did you study and in which University? I studied MA in Journalism Studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1996/97. It was renamed Cardiff University in 1999 when it became an independent university awarding its degrees. How was your Chevening experience and how did it or has it changed/impacted your life? My Chevening experience was very enriching. I interacted with the whole world. I had classmates who were Chinese, Greek, and Lithuanian. All these were no longer nations I met in the news but real people that I spoke with and shared coffee and meals with. We were at the beginning of the technology age and I saw a computer for the first time in Cardiff. It wasn’t just one. The smallest computer library where I wrote my assignments had upwards of 100 computers. I wondered why it wasn’t a computer shop. I remember the challenges of looking for yesterday's work which I didn’t know I was supposed to save. I had some sad moments too. My mother died during my study year. Coming back home to bury her was the longest flight I ever took. I didn’t want the plane to land. I wanted it to keep flying and flying. I had left my 5-year-old son with my parents and how my dad (now late) managed to look after that tot alone remains a mystery for which I am ever so grateful. These moments come afresh as I remember that my son joined his grandparents in eternal sleep early this year. As a Chevening Leader, what would you consider your proudest moment or greatest achievement? As a Chevening alumnus, I was involved in the mobilisation of fellow alumni, aware that we were selected as niche members of society to be thought leaders and role models in our various disciplines. I was the volunteer and founder Chair of the Chevening Kenya Alumni Association which we formed in 2014 and served up to 2022. We moulded it into a think tank of Kenyans who studied in the United Kingdom under the sponsorship of the British Government. We developed instruments of governance- the constitution and the first strategic plan and we were able to mobilise funds for our activities for six years running from 2015- 2021. We created our flagship program The Chevening Conversation which is essentially a thought leadership program bringing in discussion from the various disciplines represented in the Chevening rainbow of professions. The success of the alumni association is very important given the high standing the Chevening Scholarship is accorded particularly by its funders. We ought to use that to bring positive change in our society. Who or what has had the greatest influence on your life? My dad. He would push me to achieve more than I thought possible. I remember once when I tried to plant some vegetables on his shamba and he asked why do you want to plant like I have done? Why did I send you to school? You are supposed to be planting in greenhouses and using other modern technology, not old-fashioned things like I have done. In retrospect, I think I became his closest colleague after my mum’s demise and I learned a lot from him. What is the most important lesson you have learned in life? To have a dream and in Covey's words, to begin with the end in mind. That way you remain focussed and you do not wander off with every passing wind. How would you like to be remembered? As a mentor, a servant who did her best to hold the hand of a struggling soul. I have received so much I want to be able to give back to God and society.