As the media industry continues to grow both locally and internationally, a number of Kenyan journalists have made a name for themselves working for global media houses.
This has been greatly encouraged by the hard work put in by the journalists themselves and media companies in Kenya in ensuring the delivery of quality news to members of the public.
Over the years, we have witnessed some of the top local talent get poached by international media houses, leaving us proud of the milestones the industry continues to accomplish locally while making a global mark.
Whownskenya.com looks at some of the Kenyans who have worked or are still working at international media houses.
Jeff Koinange
Citizen TV’s veteran journalist and news anchor Jeff Koinange is a man adored by many on the international stage.
Before returning to Kenya to work for the local channels, the award-winning journalist worked for US’s Atlanta-based media house CNN.
Koinange joined CNN in 2001 and was its Africa correspondent, responsible for reporting for CNN from across the African continent. He reported on news events throughout Africa for the international news network.
He covered a range of African issues and events along with several others within the US and across the world.
Koinange left CNN in May 2007.
Larry Madowo
Larry Madowo is and continues to be an inspiration among budding and experienced journalists in Kenya.
From his humble beginnings at Standard Media Group’s KTN to the international stage, Larry is a true definition of success in the Kenyan media industry.
Madowo departed NTV in 2018 for BBC News Africa as a Business Editor. He worked for the media house on various capacities leading a team of journalists from across the world on business reporting. He took a sabbatical to pursue studies at Columbia University and later returned as BBC’s correspondent for North America.
In May 2021, he left BBC for CNN where is the Eastern and Central Africa correspondent.
Zain Verjee
Zain Verjee worked for CNN for 14 years, departing in 2014. Prior to joining the international media house, she was a news anchor at KTN and a DJ at Capital FM.
She joined CNN in 2000 where she worked for 14 years covering various stories both as an anchor and a reporter.
Verjee travelled the world covering foreign policy for CNN. She lived in Atlanta, Washington DC and London. Prior to her departure, she was the anchor of CNN International’s European daytime program “World One”.
She worked as a newsreader for The Situation Room, as a State Department correspondent, and as a co-anchor of CNN International’s Your World Today with Jim Clancy.
Verjee left CNN to run her own company Zain Verjee Group, which is based in New York and Nairobi and focuses on African businesses and lifestyle stories.
Grace Kuria
In January 2021, Grace Kuria announced her departure from KTN on live television. She had worked at the station for two years since leaving K24 in 2019.
She later announced that she would be joining China Global Television Network (CGTN) which has its Africa division (CGTN Africa) based in Nairobi Kenya – formerly known as CCTV.
Beatrice Marshall
She was among the first Kenyan news anchors to join CGTN.
Prior to joining the Chinese media house, Marshall was the Deputy Managing Editor of KTN and also served as the channel’s chief anchor.
At CGTN, Marshall has gone on to build her African profile anchoring ‘Africa Live’, a daily News program, and hosts ‘Talk Africa’.
In the course of illustrious career, spanning over 15 years, she has interviewed 17 sitting African presidents.
Saddique Shaban
The veteran journalist formerly worked as a Sports News Reporter/ News Anchor at Mombasa Road-based KTN between 2005 and 2013.
Shaban later proceeded to join CGTN where is the current Sports Editor and Reporter based in Nairobi, Kenya.
He is a rally championships enthusiast and is also a licensed navigator and an award-winning motorsport journalist.
Shaban is also a corporate MC and a sports consultant for a number of elite Kenyan athletes.
Ramah Nyang’
He joined CGTN in 2012 as a business anchor and reporter. Nyang’ previously worked in various Kenyan media houses, covering business and political news.
He was an in-depth political analyst while working as an editor and an anchor at KTN.
Nyang’ was known for his in-depth coverage of Kenya’s International Criminals Court (ICC) case.
At CGTN, he has covered developments in Kenya’s Capital Markets, Fiscal and Monetary Policy over the years.
