NAIROBI, Kenya—Veteran journalist Yvonne Okwara’s departure from Citizen TV has sparked mixed reactions among viewers, bringing an end to an eight-and-a-half-year stint at the station where she became one of Kenya’s most recognisable television news personalities.
Okwara signed off on Tuesday, October 27, during her final edition of The Explainer, leaving behind a familiar presence on prime-time news and current-affairs programmes that have shaped public conversations on politics, business and governance.
For many viewers, her departure means saying goodbye to the sharp interviews and probing questions that became a hallmark of her television career. Her work on The Explainer, which aired every Tuesday, offered audiences a deeper examination of major national issues, while News Gang brought her into weekly editorial discussions alongside fellow journalists.
She also served as Business Editor, bringing economic and business developments to audiences while continuing to anchor news and participate in current-affairs programming.
During her farewell, Okwara reflected on a journalism career spanning two decades, thanking her mentors, colleagues and viewers for being part of her journey. She also paid tribute to the News Gang team, which she helped build, before signalling that she was ready for a new challenge.
“After 20 years of building this ship, it is time to build another,” she said, assuring viewers that she was not done building.
Her exit quickly drew reactions from Kenyans on social media, with viewers and fellow media personalities sharing tributes and reflecting on the mark she had left on the industry.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was among those who praised her, recalling that she gave him his first television appearance more than 13 years ago.
Although Okwara did not announce her next assignment during her final broadcast, reports published on Wednesday said Dennis Itumbi had identified her next role as Head of Government Relations for East Africa at Shuga Global, formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation. The announcement was made by Itumbi, rather than by Okwara herself.
Her departure closes an important chapter at Citizen TV, but her farewell message suggests that she intends to take her experience into a new phase of professional life.
For viewers who have followed her through the evening bulletins, Tuesday-night explainers and Thursday discussions, the change will be felt most when the familiar face is no longer at the desk.
And perhaps that is the question her exit leaves behind: who will take over the role of asking the difficult questions audiences have come to expect?
