Veteran journalist Yvonne Okwara has announced her departure from Citizen TV after eight and a half years at the Royal Media Services (RMS) owned broadcaster.

Okwara made the announcement on Tuesday, October 27, during her final edition of The Explainer, a weekly current affairs programme aired every Tuesday at 9pm.

She also revealed that the departure marks an end to a nearly two-decade career in journalism after working across several media houses in Kenya.

In her farewell address, Okwara expressed gratitude to viewers and colleagues for their support throughout her career, describing her departure as a return to the place where her professional journey began.

“When I walked through these doors I was young, fresh from university. I still feel the same way. But allow me tonight a little indulgence, because this is my final final word. The very place I started my career in journalism is the same place I get to wrap things up,” she said.

She further described the departure as the beginning of a new chapter.

“So, I am not done building. I’m simply moving to build something else. And to you, I urge: keep asking the right questions, keep demanding better, keep holding power to account, and keep believing that this country is worth fighting for,” she added.

Okwara did not disclose her next move but signalled her intention to pursue new opportunities beyond the newsroom.

From KBC to Citizen TV

Okwara began her media career at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where she hosted a children’s programme before moving into radio and television roles.

She later joined Hot 96FM before moving to the Nation Media Group, where she worked as a radio talk show producer for QFM in 2008. During her time at the media house, she also did voice-over work for NTV’s business programme, Money Matters.

In 2012, Okwara joined the Kenya Television Network (KTN) on a five-year contract, gaining further experience in television journalism before moving to Royal Media Services.

She joined Citizen TV in 2018 as a prime-time news anchor and was subsequently promoted to senior news anchor and editor in charge of research and planning.

During her tenure at Citizen TV, Okwara anchored prime-time news bulletins, hosted current affairs programmes and reported on major political and economic developments in Kenya.

Her work also included interviews with prominent national and international figures, among them President William Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.