EXCLUSIVE: Ex-K24 TV Anchor Tony Kwalanda Unveils New Show on Switch TV

File image of K24 sports anchor Tony Kwalanda
File image of K24 sports anchor Tony Kwalanda
Twitter

Celebrated Sports News anchor Tony Kwalanda has landed a new show set to premiere on Switch TV on Monday, July 13, with Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed as his first guest.

The outspoken media personality revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that his new show, dubbed Sports Center, would air before the 9 pm news and would feature sports pundits and guests either in the studio or contributing live on Skype.

"I am moving over to Switch TV. The show is known as Sports Center and will air on Mondays from 8 pm and 9 pm.

"I have other pundits like those who will dissect stories live in-studio. I will also be having other guests and I intend to host Sports CS Amina Mohammed as the first guest," he stated.

File image of a news set at Switch TV studios in Nairobi
File image of a news set at Switch TV studios in Nairobi
File
Switch TV

He further explained the concept of his new show is similar to that of his past day time sports commentary, Sports Hub, which aired on K24 TV and that Switch TV stood out from the numerous offers he had received before.

"Sports Center will be just like Sports Hub. It is an interactive show with the viewer. We shall also have gifts for the audience including airtime and merchandise.

"Switch was the first offer I received and it aligned with my vision as well as shared my ideology. The other offers were dragging their feet wanting the show to change. I settled on Switch," he explained.

Kwalanda was among a group of Mediamax employees who were kicked out from the Kijabe Street-based media house after objecting to a 50 per cent pay cut imposed on them by the station.

After the axe, the anchor confided in this writer that he had to move to a cheaper house to keep the jobs of a number of employees who worked at his business, a public relations company as well as a cleaning firm.

He disclosed that he had to slash his rental charges by nearly 50 per cent noting that his businesses had also suffered on the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country in March.

Kwalanda had worked at Mediamax for 11 years within which he debuted the Sports Hub show which aired weekdays after the 1 pm news.

"I am switching to another station and taking sports to a whole new level. Thank you K24 for the 11 years of a great experience. Watch this space for my next move!" Wrote Kwalanda to his fans after leaving the station.

Sports CS Amina Mohamed speaking during the ground breaking ceremony of Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium at the ASK Kisumu Showground in Mamboleo, Kisumu County on June 24, 2020.
Sports CS Amina Mohamed speaking during the ground breaking ceremony of Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium at the ASK Kisumu Showground in Mamboleo, Kisumu County on June 24, 2020.
Amina Mohamed / Twitter