On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, veteran journalist Yvonne Okwara-Matole announced her exit from Citizen TV after an eight-year stint at the Royal Media Services (RMS)-owned station. The move ends roughly two decades in Kenyan journalism.
Okwara joined Citizen TV in May 2018 after leaving KTN News. She had previously worked at KBC, Nation Media Group (including QFM/QTV and NTV), and earlier in radio at RMS. At Citizen TV she became one of the station’s most recognisable faces, anchoring prime-time bulletins and hosting current-affairs programmes including News Gang and The Explainer. In December 2021 she also took on the role of Business Editor while continuing her on-air work.
In her farewell, Okwara reflected on her long career and the decision to step away from full-time journalism. Reports and social-media summaries of her sign-off indicate she is leaving the screens after about 20 years in the industry to pursue other interests.
She thanked key people who shaped her career, including Jimi Gathu, Joe Ageyo, Sam Shollei, Munira, Talaam, and the News Gang team. Earlier reflections (from a 2025 LinkedIn post marking seven years at Citizen TV) described her journey as one of “growth, grit, grace, and gratitude,” noting the privilege of questioning power and creating space for deeper understanding through programmes such as The Explainer and News Gang.
Her exact full on-air farewell statement has been shared mainly via video clips from Citizen TV rather than lengthy published transcripts. Public reaction has focused on her professionalism, firm interviewing style, and contribution to accountability journalism.
RMS Group Editorial Director Linus Kaikai led the station’s farewell remarks. In comments shared by Citizen TV, he said:
“The next departure is always tougher than the last one. This is the toughest I have had to deal with in my leadership of the newsroom. The industry will miss you; this is an industry dent, and we want to wish you the very best in your next endeavors.”
Kaikai’s statement underscored the high regard in which Okwara was held within the newsroom and the wider industry. He has previously described her as “a strong accountability-driven journalist with a strong record in public interest reporting” (notably when The Explainer was launched as a standalone programme in 2023).
No official announcement has confirmed her next role. Speculation on social media has included possible moves into politics or other public platforms, but nothing has been verified.
Her departure is widely viewed as a significant loss for Citizen TV’s current-affairs and analytical programming
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