With a BAKE Award under his belt, Nixon Kanali is undoubtedly one of the best technology bloggers in Kenya. He is a huge nerd with a background in journalism and varied career experience in Gadgets, Reviews, Business, fintech, African startups and cybersecurity.
We had a few questions for him and here’s what he had to say:
Share something interesting about your self
Mmmmmh, something interesting!!! I actually learnt to write about tech from reading tech publications. Also, I first built my first WordPress website after watching a long YouTube tutorial on how to create websites.
What was your first phone?
Ok this is something I am never going to forget. It was the Motorola C118 O got it while in high school. It was the most expensive thing I ever bought with my own money then.
What attracted/ inspired you into tech blogging?
Well, I would say interest and my love for tech. I used to read a lot of international tech blogs and publications, and always dreamt of owning one in future. Again the idea of wanting to build a personal brand from a niche (tech media) that had not really be tapped really inspired me.
I am a trained journalist and telling stories is one thing I love doing. I never wanted to do anything else outside telling tech stories and writing about African startups. That also played a major role in inspiring me to do tech.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Introvert, curious, Persistent
What is your fav food, song, book, movie?
My favourite food is chicken and chapati. Anyone who can buy me that is a friend for keeps. I really don’t have a favourite song but I listen to a lot of old school hip-hop. My favourite book must be The Challenge For Africa, by Wangari Maathai. I like her perspective about Africa in the books. It offers some great ideas on how we as Africans have solutions to our own problems.
About my favourite movie? I also don’t have a favourite, I just watch anything interesting I find on these movie streaming platforms.
If you were not a blogger, what would you be instead?
Wow, if I were not a blogger I would maybe be somewhere in a media house as a reporter because that’s what I have been trained in. I have hosted a radio show before so that’s something I would really want to go back and do and also done a lot of PR for some organisations.
Actually, my last job was actually a PR and communications lead for some company on Mombasa Road, I resigned in June 2018 and decided to fully go into blogging and freelance tech journalism.
With technology upgrades every day, what three things do you think will be obsolete in ten years?
I could talk about more than three things but Landline Phones. Even now I still get surprised when I visit offices in Nairobi and find people still using them. I mean almost everybody has a smartphone these days and those who don’t at least have basic feature phone that can be used to make phone calls and even send text messages.
The second thing will be passwords. Well, not so many people will actually agree with this, but who will need passwords when you can easily access your devices using biometrics such as fingerprints, and voice and facial recognition?
The third thing that I think will become obsolete is wired chargers. Most companies are now incorporating wireless charging into their devices. I use one already. I just set my phone down on a pad and let it charge, no adapters or plugs required.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself doing so many things which include setting up a full tech media publication/media house.
Is there a quote/mantra you live by?
‘’Mindset is everything’’ This is a mantra I always live by. So many things in this world and this industry are beyond our control, but one thing that is always in control in our mind, our mindset.
If you were a superhero, who would you be and why?
I think I would be Iron Man lol..because one of the things I love doing is using the little resources at my disposal to make the world a better place and make people around me happy.
Catch Nick at the Techtrendske.co.ke and theflipside.co.ke, and read your way into his world of technology.