By Prudence Minayo
Ben Kitili ranks among the best news anchors in Kenya. He has worked in different leading media houses and has survived being fired as is the new norm in most media houses. The prime time news anchor currently works for Kenya Television Network, one of the oldest privately owned stations in the country. The station was at one point the home of A-list journalists like Lilian Muli, Mashirima Kapombe, Janet Mbugua, investigative journalist turned politician Muhammed Ali and Alex Chamwada.
Education
Like most other journalists in the country, Ben Kitili pursued his Bachelor’s Degree at Daystar University, an institution in the country that has produced some of the best journalists in the country. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Electronic Media).
Career
Cases of people in the country graduating and failing to get jobs are rampant. For some people, the process of getting a job is very tiring and full of discouragement that may make some give up but not Ben Kitili. After graduating from Daystar University, he struggled to get a job as a journalist. He was rejected by different stations and at one time told he did not have what it takes to be a great journalist and he should give up and do something else.
Thankfully, Ben muted the voices that told him ‘you can’t’ and pressed on. In 2008, he got his breakthrough when he was hired by Mediamax as a K24 reporter. He started reporting sports news before he was given the role of reporting news. Kitill did a wonderful job on the screen and attracted the interest of Nation Media Group.
The seasoned news anchor left Mediamax to join Nation Media Group in 2011 where he worked as a reporter on NTV. By this time, he had already proved that he had what it took to be a wonderful news man. He presented the news with style and eloquence and soon attracted the attention of Standard Media Group where he went to work for KTN in July 2013. To date, he still works at the station and is one of the best prime time news anchors. His pairing with Linda Ogutu is also a success as the two do a great job on screen.
Marriage
Ben married Amina Mude in 2018, something that led to a lot of backlash as Amina is a Muslim and he is not. However, his simple response to the backlash was amazing.
“ A beautiful day when I married the wife of my youth @amina_mude, who I promise to love and protect with my all..thank you all for your warm wishes and prayers..we are humbled. To all my Muslim and Somali brothers and sisters, especially my shemejis from Wajir, thanks a lot for your kind words and great reception.. To those who are not so welcoming, we forgive you..you have a right to your opinion as long as you don’t cross the line.. God is more important than religion..#Wajirfinest,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ben proposed to Amina back in 2015 and they tied the knot in 2018 in a civil ceremony. They are blessed with two children.
An article by Nairobi News on 30th June 2020, published that the two had separated after Amina wrote the following message on Instagram:
“ I just want to clear the air before you start reading some headlines. Ben and I are currently separated. I don’t know what the future holds but I am grateful for the beautiful memories and definitely the beautiful kids we made,” she said.
“ It has been one month of pain and tears, but I know that one day the light will shine. Watu wa rumors, please don’t start spreading lies. We are good. I am good I will be better,” she explained.
In yet another article published on 8th July 2020 by E-News, she declared that her marriage was intact and that she had learnt her lesson.
“ Hey babe @benkitili I remember when we got married, you told me ‘listen Mulky after all is said and done, marriage is not a bed of roses’ I just smiled and thought ni zile advice zako mingi za life. But last week it was so clear that you were right, one moment of anger made me write something stupid and the bloggers blew it out of proportion. I have learnt my lessons the hard way. As a wife, it’s my duty to respect and protect my husband.
And so, I want to clear the air, Ben and I are married. He will always be the man I love and honor all the days of my life,” she wrote.
Resigning From KTN
Ben Kitili joined rival station NTV on July 27 after diligently serving KTN news for a period of eight years. He takes the role of News Editor.
