How Eric Njoka’s CNN Training Chance Was Unceremoniously Taken Away

He recounted the incident from 2011 when he was unexpectedly selected for the esteemed CNN Journalism Fellowship.

His career at the TV station was on an upward trajectory, and though he tried to stay cautious about his excitement, he was thrilled about the chance.

He had received a 5-year multiple-entry visa to the USA and was ready for this new adventure, which was also a source of great pride for his late mother. With everything prepared, including his travel documents, he was all set for his first trip outside Kenya.

However, Njoka’s plans changed abruptly. “Just before my flight, I received an urgent message from the organizers saying they had received instructions from my office manager to cancel my trip and retrieve all documents. The communication from my office was reportedly rude and unprofessional, leading to the cancellation of my fellowship opportunity.”

Reflecting on his reaction, Njoka admitted, “I stayed composed and told my family I needed to go to the embassy while I tried to contact my ‘supervisors’ to understand what had happened. They avoided me for weeks, leaving me devastated and embarrassed. Watching my mother’s distress was particularly painful. It’s a long story, but ‘life must go on,’ right?”