As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to ravage Kenya’s economy, media practitioners faced uncertainties having been forced to take pay cuts, or be fired.
The economic situation pushed many journalists to seek greener pastures or take up different opportunities altogether.
As media houses started repositioning themselves to align with the changing trends, some journalists found themselves out of work and had to switch promptly.
Kenyans.co.ke has compiled a list of 10 journalists who switched stations in 2021.
Larry Madowo
Larry Madowo’s star shone brighter this year as he made the switch from global media house BBC to an even bigger international broadcaster, CNN. In May, the celebrated news anchor was unveiled as the station’s Nairobi-based correspondent.
Barely three months later, Madowo bagged a huge promotion at the broadcaster after he was elevated to the position of the network's international correspondent.
At BBC, Madowo served as the station’s North America Correspondent as well as the fill-in anchor for the network’s flagship BBC World News America.
Madowo started his career at Kenya’s Television Network (KTN) aged 20 years.
Michelle Ngele
Around March 2021, the KTN News anchor exited the Mombasa Road-based station to pursue other interests.
Seven months after leaving her news anchoring post, Ngele told Kenyans.co.ke that she was set to join K24 TV to host a Thursday night prime show.
"I just chose to resign to follow something different. At the time, I had a different gig and so I chose to leave. It has been seven months now and I will be making my debut on a different station next week.
"I absolutely enjoyed my time at KTN News. They made me who I am today and I am forever grateful. It's a wonderful place to grow," the USIU Alumni stated about her time at KTN.
Victor Kiprop
BBC News anchor Victor Kiprop experienced a meteoric rise in 2021. His star shone brightly after he was elevated to a news anchor at NTV.
At the beginning of November, Kiprop bid farewell to the Kimathi Street-based media house and was unveiled a day later as the new addition at the BBC.
“This also happens to be my last show here on NTV, yes, you heard me right and I must say it feels like yesterday when I went on air and I have been here for the last 3 years, co-hosting Your World for the last 10 months. This has been a dream come true for me," he announced while exiting NTV.
Grace Kuria
In January, former KTN News Grace Kuria announced her exit on live bulletin.
She had just served at the station for two years since joining in January 2019 after switching from K24 TV.
Two weeks later, she joined the Chinese broadcaster CGTN where she worked as a news anchor for seven months.
In September 2021, she joined BBC.
Dorcas Wangira
In October, former Citizen TV reporter Dorcas Wangira was warmly welcomed at the BBC as the newest addition to the broadcaster’s health reporting team.
She had just left her weekly segment that aired on Citizen TV every Sunday primetime.
Wangira had worked at Citizen TV from August 2018 until her departure in 2021.
The reporter studied at Mary Hill Girls High School, Kiambu County from 2004 to 2007. She then enrolled at Moi University and graduated with a degree in Communication and Public Relations in 2013.
A year later, the vibrant journalist made her breakthrough in the media industry by joining Standard Media Group PLC as an intern reporter. After working for 11 months, she got absorbed and worked as a news correspondent for two years and seven months.
She later became a freelance journalist for one year, from June 2017 to August 2018.
Ben Kitili
In July 2021, celebrated political journalist Ben Kitili announced that he was exiting from KTN News where he had worked as a news anchor for 8 years.
At KTN, Kitili hosted a political show (Inside Politics) every Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm where he interviewed political leaders from different factions. Additionally, he anchored prime-time news every Tuesday on Newsline.
At the time, it was revealed that Kitili was headed to NTV to take up the position of News Editor.
At NTV Kitili was made in charge of the NTV newsroom, guiding reporters and anchors as well as helping the station's news coverage.
Lofty Matambo and Fridah Mwaka
Lofty and Fridah Mwaka quit KTN at the same time in April 2021.
The Swahili co-anchors were then unveiled as a team at NTV towards the end of the month.
Brian Obuya
Ranked as one of the leading investigative reporters at KTN, Brian Obuya quit KTN News in September 2021 after five years.
"I have today left KTN News after a fruitful six years. Thank you for being a great audience and big motivation. See you soon," Obuya stated at the time.
A month later, Obuya joined NTV in the capacity of a crime reporter to undertake special projects from time to time.
Anita Nkonge
Celebrated NTV news reporter, Anita Nkonge, quit NTV in August after serving for three years.
In her exit message, Nkonge stated that working at the media house was a dream come true.
A few days later, BBC hired her to serve as their new Youth Reporter.
She joined the BBC's flagship youth programme dubbed ‘What’s New’ according to the memo shared with the company's employees.
Fred Indimuli
Fred Indimuli was poached by KTN News barely two months after landing a news anchoring job at Kenya’s Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Indimuli tendered his resignation after he was hired by KTN News to replace anchor Ben Kitili who joined NTV.
The journalist now hosts the political show (Inside Politics) every Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm previously hosted by Kitili.
In December, he was promoted to become the new political editor, moving from his previous role as the outpost editor.
