News anchor Yvonne Okwara has announced her departure from Citizen TV, ending an eight-year stint at the Royal Media Services (RMS)-owned station.
Okwara made the announcement following her final news bulletin at 9 PM on Tuesday, October 27, with her usual 'Yvonne's Take' normally following the Thursday night show Newsgang brought forward just 48 hours earlier this week, catching some ardent viewers off guard.
Arguably the biggest surprise came in her farewell message where she announced that she was stepping down from journalism after more than 20 years in the media industry.
“To our viewers, you have watched my career blossom from infancy to this point twenty years later. Thank you for your support,” Yvonne stated.
The veteran journalist expressed appreciation to her audience for standing by her throughout her career, acknowledging the encouragement and feedback she received from viewers over the years.
She also thanked RMS Group Editorial Director Linus Kaikai for his support and the opportunity to practise journalism. “To Linus Kaikai, thank you…Thank you for the support and for allowing me to participate in journalism,” Yvonne stated.
In her farewell message, Okwara further recognised the colleagues, mentors and other professionals who played a role in shaping her career and contributed to her growth in the media industry.
“So, I am not done building. I’m simply moving to build something else,” she concluded, calling upon viewers to keep asking questions, demand better and hold those in power to account.
Even as she brings her journalism career to a close, the seasoned broadcaster did not disclose what she plans to pursue next. After her message, she was joined by Kaikai and the rest of the Citizen TV staff who surprised her with a cake.
Yvonne Okwara Career
Okwara joined Citizen TV in May 2018 after leaving KTN News, returning to Royal Media Services, where she had previously worked in radio.
During her time at the station, she anchored prime-time bulletins, covered major political and economic developments, and hosted current affairs programmes, including News Gang and The Explainer.
Citizen TV introduced The Explainer as a standalone Tuesday prime-time programme in May 2023 following the departure of Waihiga Mwaura, who left for the BBC. At the time, Kaikai praised Okwara's experience in accountability journalism and public-interest reporting.
"She is a strong accountability-driven journalist with a strong record in public interest reporting. Her show will help audiences understand the news better.
"The Explainer is introduced because we recognize that our audiences want to understand the meaning behind events and the implications of the news events we cover and how they affect their lives," he said.
In December 2021, Okwara was appointed Business Editor at Citizen TV, taking charge of the business desk while continuing her on-air duties.
Her journalism career spans several media organisations, including the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Nation Media Group, QFM, NTV and KTN News. She began broadcasting at a young age, presenting a children's programme at KBC before gaining experience in radio production, political talk shows and television journalism.
At Nation Media Group, she worked in content production and radio before transitioning into television news.
Okwara joined KTN News in November 2012, spending more than five years at the station. During her tenure, she served as a news anchor and took on senior editorial responsibilities, including heading the anchors' team and contributing to news strategy and research.
Her departure from Citizen TV marks the end of a significant chapter in a career spanning radio production, newsroom leadership, business reporting and prime-time news presentation.
