Kenyan Journalist Sylvia Chebet has been appointed as an editor in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)'s Africa Health Department.
According to an email sent by Newton Ndebu, the station's programmes editor, Chebet will return to the Africa Health department where she had first started her career in 2018.
Chebet then embarked on the BBC Africa co-production team where she became a senior Broadcast journalist.
"I'm happy to inform you that, following a competitive process, Sylvia Chebet has been appointed to Africa Health Editor role.
"As a Senior Broadcast journalist, she helped launch the BBC-KTN Co-production programme "Kenya Connects," read part of the email.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she has amassed over 15 years experience in the media industry with a 12-year stint at Citizen TV as a Senior Reporter before joining BBC.
"She cut her teeth in journalism as a health reporter (at Citizen TV) and has developed a wealth of experience and contacts in this field, which will be useful in her new role," read part of the email.
Ndebu noted the reason for the promotion was due to the set of attributes and skills that Chebet brings to the department.
"She is curious to look beyond the headlines, explore the reality of people beyond statistics and eager to drive meaningful conversations that empower," he stated.
Chebet's appointment comes as a number of Kenyan journalists have jumped ship between various media stations.
Former Ebru TV news anchor, Lucy Riley in December 2021, joined BBC as a business reporter. Riley assumed the roles left by former BBC business anchor Hudheifa Aden.
Barely a month prior, journalist Anne Mawathe had also tendered her resignation at the station. She previously worked at the health department.
"Anne was instrumental in setting up the BBC Africa Health unit and has over the last three years led the health teams in Nairobi, Dakar and Lagos.
"She oversaw the launch of our flagship Health programmes such as Life Clinic, La Vie and Maisha and grew the coverage of health stories from the continent across BBC News platforms," read an email from BBC's Senior News Editor Vera Kwakofi.
