NAIROBI, Kenya — Yvonne Okwara’s departure from Citizen TV has closed a significant chapter in Kenyan television journalism, but it has also turned attention to another familiar face on the station’s weekend screens: Olive Burrows.
Okwara signed off from the Royal Media Services-owned station on October 27, 2026, ending an eight-and-a-half-year stint at Citizen TV and a journalism career spanning approximately two decades. A day later, she emerged in a new role as Head of Investments and Partnerships at Shuga Global, marking a transition from the newsroom to strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation.
Her exit has prompted renewed interest in the journalists who could take on greater prominence at Citizen TV, with Burrows among the established broadcasters whose experience makes her an interesting figure in the station’s evolving lineup.
Burrows currently presents the Saturday prime-time news and co-hosts Sunday Live with veteran broadcaster Jeff Koinange, a programme known for its interviews and examination of major national and international issues. She joined Citizen TV’s weekend team in June 2024, taking over from Victoria Rubadiri, who moved to CNN.
But Burrows’ journey to the prime-time desk began long before her arrival at Citizen TV.
She built her journalism career at Capital FM, where she worked for several years, rising through the newsroom ranks before moving into television at Nation Media Group-owned NTV in 2018. At NTV, she took over from Rubadiri, establishing herself as a television news presenter before eventually making the move to Citizen TV.
Her career has also included high-profile interviews that have helped build her profile beyond routine news presentation.
While at Capital FM, Burrows interviewed former United States President Barack Obama during his visit to Kenya in July 2015, an assignment that placed her in a select group of Kenyan journalists to secure an interview with the former American leader.
She has also developed a reputation for engaging prominent figures on issues affecting Kenya and the wider African continent, an experience that aligns with the demands of major current-affairs programmes.
Working alongside Koinange on Sunday Live has given Burrows a platform to participate in discussions about governance, politics, business and international developments, while reaching audiences accustomed to in-depth weekend journalism.
Okwara leaves behind a substantial record of political interviews, business reporting and public-affairs analysis. At Citizen TV, she became a central figure in programmes including News Gang and The Explainer, where her work often focused on accountability and the decisions shaping the country.
In her farewell message, Okwara urged journalists and citizens to continue asking difficult questions and holding those in power accountable, signalling that her departure from television did not mean abandoning her commitment to public service.
Whether Burrows will take on additional responsibilities following Okwara’s exit remains to be seen. Citizen TV has not announced that Burrows will replace Okwara, and the two journalists have held distinct roles within the station’s programming.
Nevertheless, Burrows’ experience across radio and television, her record of interviewing prominent international figures and her current place in Citizen TV’s weekend lineup make her a natural subject of interest as audiences watch how the broadcaster’s prime-time programming develops.
For now, Okwara is embarking on a new professional chapter at Shuga Global, while Burrows continues to build her place in Kenyan television journalism. The question of who may assume greater prominence at Citizen TV remains open, leaving viewers to watch what the station does next.
