Kenyan-born journalist, Polly Irungu, has landed a job at the White House as the first official Photo Editor.
In her announcement, Irungu said that she was fortunate to be the first person to hold the role at the office of US Vice President Kamala Harris.
“New chapter, I’m excited to announce that I’m the first official Photo Editor for the Office of the Vice President to the Biden-Harris Administration. Honoured and grateful is an understatement,” she shared.
Irungu is the founder of Black Women Photographers, a global community and directory of over 1,000 black female photographers that advocates their recognition and right to jobs.
The movement started after she experienced how tough it was for black women photographers to get recognition and jobs.
Polly is a celebrated and accomplished photojournalist with more than 15 awards and honours. She attended the University of Oregon where she graduated with a degree in Journalism.
She worked as a digital editor at New York Public Radio before venturing into self-employment and has worked with companies such as Twitter, WeTransfer, and the National Press Photographers Association.
She joins fellow Kenyan Joy Ngugi at the White House. She works as a video producer and editor in the Office of Digital Strategy in Biden’s administration.
Ngugi also announced her new job on her Twitter handle in January last year.