Tuko News journalist Hillary Lisimba Ambani has shared a deeply personal account of a botched trip to cover the Russia–Ukraine war, revealing how close he came to reporting from one of the world’s deadliest conflict zones.
In a reflective Facebook post, Ambani disclosed that he was among a select group of African journalists chosen to travel to Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its invasion two years ago.
The team comprised reporters from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, representing mainstream television stations and international outlets, including the BBC. Ambani said he was selected to represent digital media.
According to the journalist, preparations for the high-risk assignment were nearly complete.
Visas had been processed, return tickets booked, accommodation arranged, and official press credentials issued. Filming equipment was ready, and the journalists had been briefed on what to expect at the warfront.
However, the trip was abruptly cancelled just two days before departure due to delays in disbursing funds meant to cater for the journalists’ stay abroad.
Ambani revealed that the payments were to be made upfront and involved substantial amounts of money.
“It was the kind of money that would land in your account and immediately raise questions from the bank,” he recalled, underscoring how advanced the arrangements were.
Despite his disappointment, Ambani said there was another force at play.
His mother, he noted, had been persistently praying against the trip, worried about the dangers he would face on the battlefield. At the time, he admits, he was eager to go and confident in his professional training.
“I had really looked forward to reporting from the battlefield. You would have had firsthand photos and videos, live and direct,” he wrote.
Two years on, Ambani says his perspective has shifted dramatically. As a journalist, he now writes daily stories about Kenyans who have lost their lives while fighting or working in the Russia–Ukraine war.
With every article, he finds himself reflecting on the cancelled trip and questioning whether the setback was, in fact, a blessing in disguise.
“Sometimes I wonder whether that botched trip saved my life,” Ambani concluded, adding that he still believes he will one day report from a war zone — but perhaps at the right time.