Yvonne Okwara Signs Off from Citizen TV After Eight Years, Hints at New Chapter

Yvonne Okwara has signed off from Citizen TV after eight and a half years at Royal Media Services, closing a chapter in a journalism career spanning nearly two decades and leaving viewers wondering what she will do next.

The veteran journalist announced her departure on Tuesday, 27 October, during her final edition of The Explainer, the station’s weekly current affairs programme. Her farewell was more than a goodbye to a television audience. It was a reflection on a career built around difficult questions, public accountability and the belief that journalism matters.

“I am not done building. I am simply moving to build something else,” Okwara told viewers, signalling that she intends to pursue a new direction without disclosing details of her next move.

Her departure brings an end to her time as one of Citizen TV’s most recognisable news anchors and current affairs presenters. It also marks a significant moment for Kenyan broadcast journalism, where her interviews and analysis helped shape conversations around politics, leadership and national affairs.

A farewell centred on accountability

In her closing remarks, Okwara reflected on the optimism she carried when she first entered the profession.

“When I walked through these doors 20 years ago, I was young, fresh out of university with a microbiology degree, some television experience from my youth, but teeming with vibrancy, optimism for this great craft of journalism and for this country. I still feel the same way,” she said.

She spoke about the questions she had asked over the years, acknowledging that the answers did not always satisfy or inspire. But she maintained that asking those questions was part of journalism’s duty to the public.

“I've spent two decades asking questions. Sometimes the answers have inspired us. Sometimes they have angered us. Sometimes they have disappointed us,” she said.

Okwara also urged audiences to remain demanding of their leaders and institutions, calling on Kenyans to continue seeking answers and holding those in power to account.

Her message was consistent with the public-facing role she built at Citizen TV: not simply reporting events, but examining what they mean for ordinary people.

From KBC to Citizen TV

Okwara’s career began at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where she gained early broadcasting experience before moving into radio and television roles at other media houses.

She worked at Nation Media Group, QFM and NTV before joining KTN News in November 2012. During her time at The Standard Group-owned station, she took on both presentation and editorial responsibilities, including work in news strategy.

In May 2018, she returned to Royal Media Services, joining Citizen TV as a senior news anchor. Her role later expanded: in December 2021, she was appointed Business Editor, adding responsibility for the station’s business coverage to her on-air work.

At Citizen TV, she became a familiar presence on prime-time news and current affairs programmes, including News Gang and The Explainer. The latter gave her a regular platform to examine major developments and explain their implications for viewers.

She also moderated Kenya’s presidential debates in 2017 and 2022, broadening her profile beyond the daily news bulletin.

Her path into journalism was not a conventional one. Although she studied microbiology at university, she built a career in broadcasting that took her from early radio work to senior newsroom roles and high-profile interviews.

Edwin Sifuna among those paying tribute

Okwara’s announcement prompted tributes from people who had appeared on her programmes and followed her work.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna thanked her for giving him an early opportunity to appear on television and recalled their exchanges on The Explainer.

“Wishing you all the best in your next chapter. I really loved our little talks on the Explainer. You are one of the best to ever do it. I won't forget you gave me my first appearance on TV over 13 years ago. Forever grateful, God bless!” Sifuna said.

His message reflected the influence a presenter can have beyond the newsroom, providing a platform for politicians, public figures and other voices to explain their positions to a wider audience.

Okwara’s farewell also recognised the colleagues and teams behind the programmes, underscoring that television journalism depends on the work of reporters, producers, editors and technical staff as well as the people seen on screen.

What comes next?

Okwara has not publicly detailed her next role in her farewell announcement. Her statement that she is moving to build something else leaves the door open to a new professional venture, but its nature remains unconfirmed.

Her departure also raises a broader question about continuity in current affairs broadcasting. Programmes such as The Explainer and News Gang rely on audience trust, informed questioning and the ability to challenge people in power. Maintaining those qualities will matter as Citizen TV moves forward without one of its established presenters.

For Okwara, the closing message was not one of retreat. She urged viewers to keep asking questions, demand better from their leaders and continue believing in Kenya.

After nearly 20 years in journalism, her final broadcast left audiences with the principle that defined much of her work: public accountability begins with asking the questions that matter.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.