In bed with the competition – meet Massawe Japanni
MASSAWE JAPANNI is not just a seasoned Swahili presenter, but also an admired mother of three and a role model when it comes to parenting and family matters. Her husband, Tom Japanni, equally a big deal in the radio industry shares about their marriage journey, which he describes as paradise with its equal share of thorns
Jasmine Atieno @sparkleMine
Tom and Massawe Japanni first met while working for a local radio station, Baraka FM down at the coast.
At the time, in 2002 Tom was a presenter at the breakfast show while Massawe was an intern producer.
However, up until Tom left the station to join BBC World Service, their relationship was not a romantic one, only for cupid strike his arrow after he left Mombasa in 2004.
The radio beauty grew up and went to school mostly in Mombasa and partly in Machakos and went to college in Nairobi before joining the radio industry.
“Unlike me, she has had stints in almost all leading swahili radio stations. She’s a hot cake.
There’s a time we were bringing home similar paychecks,” says Tom, adding that his wife’s fat pay did not emasculate him since it is always his joy to see his wife prosper.
What makes Massawe so good at her job, he says is her intelligence and her ability to keep up with current affairs and a genuine passion for impacting lives.
That plus the fact that she is understanding of the business side of things makes her the perfect radio head.
Not a bed of roses
In an era where marriage as an institution is under threat, from infidelity to violence and other forms of abuse, Tom admits that they have had to be intentional about making their marriage work.
He is cognissant of the fact that celebrity couples have a huge challenge of sustaining their unions leading to ugly endings. 
Similarly, he discloses that their marriage has also had its own share of tribulations. But for them, Tom says, God has been their pillar thus strengthening them over the years.
Social media bullies
“Professionally we’ve had it smooth sailing as we’re both workhorses. We’ve also kept a very small circle of friends.
That way there is no over exposure. However, the loss of our first child was and still remains the biggest challenging time for us.
But I believe the fact that we’re both God-fearing and committed to our family, has helped a lot.
When all else doesn’t work we tend to draw from our friendship to restore our marriage. We were friends before we became lovers! Our friendship still stands,” says the father of three.
Being in the constant eye of the public has exposed the couple to Internet trolls and cyber bullies.
But Tom does not let them get away with it. As much as they are respectful of everybody’s opinions and views, the two will not let anyone get away with insulting or disrespecting them. “We too can shoot from the hip!” he quips.
Besides that, problems such as temptations brought about by good looking radio personalities who he interacts with on a daily basis have definitely been the least of their worries.
According to Tom, beautiful women are everywhere. Only that those in the industry, the warembos, as he calls them, are well powdered.
Making time for family
“The same principles I apply out there are the same principles I hold on to at the workplace.
It isn’t such a huge industry so, really, what would I be thinking messing around?” chuckles Tom who heads a local radio station.
He describes his marriage to Massawe as a learning curve. “Being married to my wife has been a huge learning experience. Forget the beauty, she is intelligent and committed,” he shares.
Their busy work schedule has also been a stumbling block in their marriage since they find very little time to spend together as a family.
Tom says they sometimes have to intentionally block the weekends for family time as much as they both can, which they complement with family vacations.
He says that while he maybe a boss at work, at home he is a husband and a father.
He tries not to carry work home, failure to which he is quickly put in check by the real boss at home, Massawe.
This, he says, helps so much to enjoy the home space away from work. “Massawe is the head in our house.
I just provide and protect! Anyway, on a serious note, the office boss in me does creep in at home sometimes, but I quickly get extinguished by the no nonsense Massawe,” he says amidst laughter.
The two work for competing radio stations. Tom is Radio Maisha head while Massawe is a presenter at Radio Jambo. “We work for competing brands. We only share the airwaves.
And I have been doing a good job of beating them at their game. However, you could say, and rightly so, that I am in bed with the competition,” he laughs.
He, however, notes that they try to be professional as possible when it comes to confidentiality. Tom says their different personalities helps keep their relationship balanced.
“My wife is bold, loving, persistent and fun loving. I am the serious one!” he says adding, “She adores my attention while I enjoy the lack of pressure to keep the conversation going.”
