Jesse Masai is 31 years old, grew up in Cherangany politics and, although he has lived in the nation's capital since 1999, still calls Rift Valley home.
Known to his friends as JM, Jesse served as a pioneer writer and editor at Cherangany High School, these days known as St. Mark's Boys' High School.
He read Communications at Daystar University (Kenya), and also Messiah College (PA, USA), where he was detached to Involvement and The Swinging Bridge as editor-in-chief and staff writer respectively.
In 2007, he contested for the Cherangany parliamentary seat in Rift Valley Province, Kenya.
Afterwards, he pursued various fellowships, with a strong bias towards global politics, the Middle East, public policy and national security.
He has political and media experience on Capitol Hill dating back to the summer of 2008, first working at the Family Research Council, from where he would proceed to other engagements.
In between academic, political and media engagements, Jesse temped for various individuals, think-tanks and organizations in Nairobi, New York and Washington, DC.
The challenges, frustrations, and rewards he encountered in his temporary work experiences led Jesse to build Jesse-Masai, a political communications company.
By launching Jesse-Masai, Jesse sought to create a business that not only resonated with political realities in Africa and job seekers, but also had wider appeal to those interested in public affairs, public relations, media, and non-profits.
Jesse-Masai is designed to provide organizations, individuals and governments with top-notch services in political communication.
As president and CEO, Jesse oversees the business development as well as marketing and management activities of Jesse-Masai.
Jesse was greatly inspired, in words and much else, to venture into this by friends and colleagues who had temped for similar outfits in London, New York and the Greater D.C area.
Jesse is, among others, a member of the Witherspoon Fellowship, the National Journalism Center and the American Journalism Center, and a certified journalism and public relations professional.
Jesse has served with, among others, the World Health Organization and Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.
Jesse’s writings have appeared in the Daily Nation, The Standard, The Star, among others, and he’s been a guest on the BBC World Service.
Here are links to some of Jesse's published works:
a). At the Family Research Council
Jesse provided the concept behind this video, aired on various major US networks and across various media markets.
