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Bringing the Buddies Together: When the Group Chat Comes to Life
By Patrick Kariuki
WhatsApp has three billion active users worldwide who send over 3 trillion messages a month.
Most of these messages are exchanged within groups, where billions of people organize and communicate.
PR Buddies Institute is a lively WhatsApp group of communication professionals. It styles itself as a virtual "institute" of Public Relations and Communication, consisting of the industry's leading minds from both the public and private sectors.
Bringing the Buddies Together
As with many a WhatsApp community, the buddies have frequently discussed holding a get-together, but the date never quite worked out due to logistical challenges.
However, somewhere along the way, after the direct intervention of radio legend Fred Obachi Machoka and PhD candidate Calvin Nyagudi, the idea grew wings.
Finally, on August 16, 2025, they made the leap from the virtual to the real and gathered at Fred's Ranch, Isinya, for a memorable meeting of eminent communicators.
Uncle Fred greets Prof. Mike Kuria of the Commission for University Education (CUE). Looking on from left are Mwangi Gakunga (COMESA rtd.), Professor Levi Obonyo, Daystar University's Dean of the School of Communication, and other distinguished Buddies.
Grace Munjuri, Brand Magnets, James Ngomeli, Brands and Beyond, Senior Counsel Steve Wangaji, Office of Controller of Budgets
Calvin Nyagudi, PhD Candidate at Beijing Jiaotong University, welcomes Cheryl Ochang, JKIA, into the venue
Uncle Fred Welcomes Nelly of Lasona Kindergarten, and her Mum
Maureen Wanjiku Karugu, Nairobi Water, Ruth Dero, National Syndemic Diseases Council, Akuku Danger, Master of Ceremonies
Wausi Walya, Kenya Tourism Board, brought a gift for host Uncle Fred
Fred Obachi Machoka addresses Buddies
Wycliffe Bob, IT Specialist, Sylvia Mochorwa, KICC, Ruth Dero, National Syndemic Diseases Council, and Joanne Wanjala, Insurance Regulatory Authority
Joanne Wanjala and Josephine Mbeo (Min. of Agriculture, rtd.)
Joe Ndegwa, Kenya Literature Bureau, Grace Munjuri, Brand Magnets
Buddies get acquainted
LJ Musibi, Kenya Flower Council, and Joanne Wanjala, Insurance Regulatory Authority
Nelly's son meets Buddies Mupa and Riziki
Buddies engage in teambuilding exercises
Akuku Danger leads the exercises
Buddies tour the organic farm at Fred's Ranch
Buddies check out the dairy project
Uncle Fred says, first, let me take a selfie.
Buddies in a tête-à-tête
Buddies group photo
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