The Citizen TV presenter built her career gradually, overcoming rejection, returning to school and taking opportunities that eventually transformed her into one of the country's best-known Swahili news anchors.
Today, Lulu co-hosts the popular weekend programme Nipashe Wikendi alongside her husband, fellow journalist Rashid Abdalla. The show airs on Citizen TV on Saturday and Sunday evenings and has become a familiar programme among Swahili-speaking viewers.
The programme also features segments dedicated to relationships and family matters, including advice from personalities such as Bi Mswafari and Miriam Wa Migomba.
But behind the successful television career is a story of persistence.
Her Career Started at a Reception Desk
In an interview with Jeff Koinange and Nick Odhiambo that aired on Hot 96 FM in March 2022, Lulu revealed that she started working in 2005 as a receptionist at Techbizz Limited, an information technology company based in Mombasa.
In an interview with Jeff Koinange and Nick Odhiambo that aired on Hot 96 FM in March 2022, Lulu revealed that she started working in 2005 as a receptionist at Techbizz Limited, an information technology company based in Mombasa.
Although she was not initially working in the media industry, she developed a strong interest in journalism.
One of the ways she nurtured that interest was by reading newspapers to her mother every day.
Her mother encouraged her to pursue broadcasting and repeatedly urged her to try her luck in the competitive media industry.
Lulu eventually saw an advertisement for a radio presenter at Radio Salaam and decided to apply despite lacking formal journalism experience.
She attended the interview and succeeded.
She was subsequently given an opportunity to work as a part-time news anchor while she returned to school to pursue professional journalism training.
One of the ways she nurtured that interest was by reading newspapers to her mother every day.
Her mother encouraged her to pursue broadcasting and repeatedly urged her to try her luck in the competitive media industry.
Lulu eventually saw an advertisement for a radio presenter at Radio Salaam and decided to apply despite lacking formal journalism experience.
She attended the interview and succeeded.
She was subsequently given an opportunity to work as a part-time news anchor while she returned to school to pursue professional journalism training.
Rejection Did Not Stop Her
After completing her studies, Lulu began searching for a television opportunity.
One of the stations she approached was Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, but she was reportedly rejected and told that she did not have what the station considered a suitable television voice.
After completing her studies, Lulu began searching for a television opportunity.
One of the stations she approached was Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, but she was reportedly rejected and told that she did not have what the station considered a suitable television voice.
Rather than abandoning her ambitions, she continued attending interviews and searching for opportunities.
Her breakthrough eventually came through KTN.
While working at Radio Salaam, a colleague informed her that two prominent Swahili news anchors at KTN were expected to go on maternity leave.
Lulu applied for the opportunity, attended the interview and was selected.
She joined KTN as a Swahili news anchor at a remarkably young age.
Her first major assignment involved presenting the weekday 7pm news alongside veteran journalist Ali Manzu.
The programme helped introduce her to a much larger television audience and became an important turning point in her career.
Her breakthrough eventually came through KTN.
While working at Radio Salaam, a colleague informed her that two prominent Swahili news anchors at KTN were expected to go on maternity leave.
Lulu applied for the opportunity, attended the interview and was selected.
She joined KTN as a Swahili news anchor at a remarkably young age.
Her first major assignment involved presenting the weekday 7pm news alongside veteran journalist Ali Manzu.
The programme helped introduce her to a much larger television audience and became an important turning point in her career.
Citizen TV and Her On-Screen Partnership
Lulu later moved from KTN to Citizen TV, where she continued developing her reputation as a leading Swahili broadcaster.
It was also during her media career that she met Rashid Abdalla.
Lulu later moved from KTN to Citizen TV, where she continued developing her reputation as a leading Swahili broadcaster.
It was also during her media career that she met Rashid Abdalla.
The two eventually married in 2009 and later became one of Kenya's most recognisable journalist couples.
Their partnership on Nipashe Wikendi made them particularly popular among viewers, as they became one of the country's best-known husband-and-wife television anchoring teams.
Their partnership on Nipashe Wikendi made them particularly popular among viewers, as they became one of the country's best-known husband-and-wife television anchoring teams.
From Newsrooms to Television Production
Lulu's ambitions extended beyond presenting news.
She had developed an interest in acting while still in school and later worked with several theatre companies in Mombasa.
Her passion for storytelling eventually led her, together with Rashid, to establish Jiffy Pictures in 2013.
The production company ventured into television drama, beginning with Moyo, whose first season was produced using approximately KSh400,000 and later aired on Citizen TV.
The company subsequently produced Maria, which became a major television success and attracted a large following among Kenyan viewers.
After Maria, Jiffy Pictures produced Zora, another popular drama series.
Lulu Hassan's journey therefore stretches far beyond television news.
Lulu's ambitions extended beyond presenting news.
She had developed an interest in acting while still in school and later worked with several theatre companies in Mombasa.
Her passion for storytelling eventually led her, together with Rashid, to establish Jiffy Pictures in 2013.
The production company ventured into television drama, beginning with Moyo, whose first season was produced using approximately KSh400,000 and later aired on Citizen TV.
The company subsequently produced Maria, which became a major television success and attracted a large following among Kenyan viewers.
After Maria, Jiffy Pictures produced Zora, another popular drama series.
Lulu Hassan's journey therefore stretches far beyond television news.
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Celebrities