The mass exodus of top talent from NTV jolted operations at the Aga Khan owned media house to its core. To counter this hemorrhage, the station embarked on luring A list presenters from competing media houses in a bid to shore up their dwindling ratings. NTV poached Salim Swaleh from Citizen TV and was keen on ‘signing’ Willis Raburu. It was Larry Madowo, who has since joined BBC, who exposed the fissures in NTV in a series of tweets and that may have ‘incited’ his former colleagues exit the media house. At the time, Madowo criticized his bosses for playing puppets to State House. Larry aside, we take a look Willis Raburu salary, why he wasn’t enticed by the NTV bait and what he owns.
Starting out
The imposing Willis Raburu joined the mainstream media when he was still a third year student at Moi University. Raburu was schooled at K24 but was to join Citizen TV in October 2010 after graduating with a Bachelor of Information Science-media degree. He rose from a reporter to host 10/10-one of the most popular programs on TV- alongside Joey Muthegi. He said of his journey in the media field: “When I was 24 and I got hired by Citizen Television straight out of campus – that was a very pivotal point in my life. Many did not believe that one can get employed at a reputable organisation without having ‘key’ connections. The job came at a time when I had been turned down by other local TV stations – they told me I did not have the right type of voice for broadcast.”
NTV Interest on Raburu
NTV was keen to bring onboard the easy charming Raburu from last year after Madowo opted out of the Trend to concentrate on his new baby-the Sidebar political show. Raburu was seen as the best fit to replace Madowo and negotiation started. According to Business Today, the deal fell flat after Royal Media Services (RMS) Managing Director Wachira Waruru agreed to give the then 10/10 host a pay rise. NTV unveiled Amina Abdi amid pomp and color to host the Trend instead.
Joining Amina Abdi
The Trend is still struggling under Amina Abdi and what a better way of adding oomph to the show by teaming her with Raburu. According to well placed sources, Raburu was to co-host the trend with Amina Abdi. The Hot 96 FM mid morning radio host is receiving a fat pay cheque for his services. Raburu was also earmarked to read the Prime Time news. With many top journalist exiting NTV, Raburu opted to remain in a station that had build his career and not a sinking ship that was the Aga Khan entity.
Willis Raburu salary at Citizen
According to online news otlets, the gifted all rounded journalist was to pocket kes700,000 which is inclusive of allowances amounting to kes250,000 if he joined NTV. Of course this pay is exaggerated. His pay at Citizen TV is not more than kes400,000 inclusive of allowances.
What he owns
Raburu drives a Mercedes Benz, a car associated with the rich in Kenya.
House
Unlike most of peers, the journalist is built a mansion that befits his status.
Marriage
The energetic 10 over 10 host is married to Marya Prude. The couple exchanged vows two years ago in an invite only affair. According to Mpasho, Raburu’s marriage is on the rocks and the wife has reportedly moved out of their matrimonial home.
Willis said of his first meeting with Marya:
“WE MET IN CHURCH, AT JUBILEE CHRISTIAN CHURCH THROUGH MY FRIEND PABLO. HE INTRODUCED ME AND WHEN I SAW HER, I WAS LIKE ‘GOOD LORD HALLELUJAH!’ BUT EVEN THOUGH I NOTICED HER FINE-NESS, I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING AS I WAS STILL IN A RELATIONSHIP. ABOUT A YEAR PASSED BY AFTER WE MET…”
