Florence Ochieng, a veteran reporter for Radio Lake Victoria based in Homa Bay, has died after a short illness, adding her name to the tragic list of journalists whose promising careers were cut short.

Ochieng’s story is a heartbreaking reflection of the professional betrayals many journalists face.

At the peak of her career, working with a prominent media outlet, her path seemed destined for an upward trajectory—both in the newsroom and in politics.

Her reporting, particularly on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Homa Bay, was instrumental in strengthening the party’s position.

In appreciation of her work and to represent people with disability, the Raila Odinga-led ODM shortlisted her as a potential nominee for the Homa Bay County Assembly following the 2017 general elections.

However, the promised transition never materialized, Ochieng was shortchanged, and the nomination was given to another person.

The fallout was immediate and devastating. Instead of being lauded for her political shortlisting, her seniors at the prominent media house began to turn on her, ultimately forcing her out.

She lost a lucrative position she had worked tirelessly to earn, simultaneously failed by the Orange party which did not honour her contributions.

Resorting to a smaller radio station for employment, Ochieng worked to the end of her life, never regaining the footing she had lost.

The cause of her short illness remains unclear. Her untimely death is a grim reminder of the vulnerability of media professionals who dedicate their lives to political causes only to be abandoned by those they championed.