Award-winning journalist Mercy Juma Okanda has left the BBC after a successful six-year stint.
News of Juma's exit was made public by her colleague BBC World Service Africa Regional Editor Richard Kagoe, who revealed that Tuesday was the revered reporter's last day of work.
“On Tuesday, we bid farewell to an incredible colleague and exceptional journalist Mercy Juma Okande. Over the years, she’s earned numerous awards for her compelling storytelling,” he said.
“We call her “the humanitarian” for her unique ability to uncover and highlight the struggles of those affected by natural disasters, health crises and conflict."
While Kagoe did not mention Mercy's next destination in his statement, he clarified that the journalist would 'embark on a new journey'.
A number of Juma's industry colleagues have since taken to social media to wish Juma well in her future endeavours including Citizen TV's Waihiga Mwaura who posted, "All the best in your new season."
In one of her most notable assignments in 2024, she covered the state of affairs in Sudan amid a conflict which saw more than 15,000 pass away while millions of others were forced to flee their homes. Despite the potential dangers, Juma went to the heart of Sudan to give the world an in-depth view of the devastating effects of the conflict.
Months later in June, the former NTV journalist also comprehensively covered the infamous Gen-Z protests, which stemmed from Kenyans' fierce rejection of the Finance Bill.
Kenyans.co.ke also previously covered some of the journalist's awards in her line of work. In 2016, she clinched the TV Reporter of the Year - Gender Reporting Category, at the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards by Media Council of Kenya.
Two years earlier, she emerged the winner of the Consumer Media Award for Best Health, Food and Drugs Category (Broadcast) in 2014 (UNFPA/KEMEP).
Mercy Juma spent six largely successful years with at BBC News Africa, mainly working as a correspondent since 2018. Her stories mainly revolved around the humanity side, as she covered a range of human-interest topics including women's rights, climate change, and reproductive health among others.
She also worked as a broadcast journalist, whose key roles revolved around digital video storytelling, news and the production of features.
Between April 2012 and March 2017, Mercy Juma worked at NTV as a Senior Health and Science Reporter at Nation Media Group in what was her first major gig since leaving Moi University, Eldoret, where she briefly worked as a reporter and editor for Info Magazine.