Desmond Karani
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Fit Savanna
Covers:
Strength training, Gym workouts, Muscle growth & recovery, Functional fitness, Beginner training guides, High-protein diets, Nutrition for fat loss, Kenyan food & fitness culture, Affordable protein.
Doesn't Cover:
I don’t cover celebrity gossip, politics, religion, or entertainment news. I also avoid unverified health claims, supplements without credible evidence, and non-fitness tech unrelated to wellness.
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, Fitness 🏋🏾♂️.
Founder and developer www.fitsavanna.co.ke
We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I haven’t used one myself, but I admire how they demanded every word count!
How is social media changing news?
In the fitness space, social media has blurred the line between experts and influencers. It spreads trends faster than evidence can catch up, which makes clear, accurate reporting more important than ever.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Kent, because beneath the superhero costume, he’s still a reporter who believes in truth and accountability.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means seeking truth, providing context, and giving people information they can trust. It’s about accuracy, fairness, and helping audiences make sense of the world.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
In the fitness world, definitely #DoItForTheGram. It perfectly sums up how people will suffer through the wildest workouts just for one clip. You should check it out.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
For fitness content, I prefer pitches grounded in real science, not hype. If you have research, expert insight, or a genuinely fresh angle on training, nutrition, or supplementation, I’m far more likely to engage.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use Google Docs for drafting, Notion for research notes, PubMed/Google Scholar for checking studies, and Canva/Lightroom/Microsoft Paint for visuals (Paint is extremely underrated btw). I also monitor trends through Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see what’s gaining traction in the fitness space.
What's your favorite social network?
These days I’m really into Mastodon. It feels calmer and more community-driven, even if it hasn’t gone fully mainstream.
Why did you become a journalist?
I’ve always been driven by curiosity. I enjoy investigating topics, breaking them down, and giving people information they can actually use. Part of me also just hates misinformation so much and I felt that others weren't doing enough.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I’m most proud of reporting "The Hidden Cost of Breathing in Nairobi" on Fit Savanna (fitsavanna.co.ke), which examined the city’s air pollution levels, 2.9 times higher than WHO guidelines, and their health impact on residents. The story combined data, expert insights, and on-the-ground reporting to shed light on a major but overlooked public health issue. It sparked conversations about accountability, citizen advocacy, and the right to a healthy environment, showing how journalism can translate complex science into real-world awareness.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be curious, persistent, and rigorous. Always verify your facts and try to listen to diverse voices.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I can be pitched at any time, 8am-6pm, GMT+3
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Anything that’s clear, relevant, and supported by facts.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Once, a company pitched me a ‘muscle-building water,’ yes, literally water. That was the moment I realised just how creative (or perhaps scammy?) the fitness industry can get these days.
What's your favorite drink?
Honestly, a protein shake.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Probably at the gym, or out on a bike ride if the weather’s good.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Aside from my own work, my favorite publication to read is Verywell Health. I appreciate their ability to break down complex medical and health information into clear, actionable insights for readers, which is something I aim to do in my own reporting.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
The most common misperception is that my beat is only about reporting events as they happen. In reality, it involves a lot of deeper analysis, verification, and context-building to show readers why something matters, not just what happened.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.