## Yvonne Okwara takes on new role at Shuga Global after leaving Citizen TV

After more than two decades in broadcast journalism, respected Kenyan journalist Yvonne Okwara is moving into a different kind of leadership. The former Citizen TV anchor has been appointed Head of Investments and Partnerships at Shuga Global, marking a new chapter after her emotional departure from the newsroom.

The appointment was announced on October 28, 2026, just a day after Okwara signed off from Citizen TV, where she had spent eight and a half years as one of Kenya's most recognisable television journalists.

What is her new role?

At Shuga Global, Okwara will lead efforts to develop strategic partnerships, attract investment and mobilise resources to support the organisation's programmes.

Shuga Global, formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, uses media, storytelling and youth engagement to address health and social issues affecting young people.

The organisation is also working to strengthen its financial sustainability and expand its international reach. Okwara's experience in journalism, communications, business and public affairs is expected to support those ambitions.

Although the organisation has international roots, Okwara has clarified that she is not relocating to London. She said Shuga Global moved its global headquarters to Nairobi and that she will be based in Kenya.

Why Kenyans know her

Okwara built a strong public profile through her work at several Kenyan media organisations, including KBC, KTN and Citizen TV.

At Citizen TV, she anchored prime-time news, presented business coverage and became a familiar face on the current affairs programme News Gang. Her interviews and direct questioning of public figures also made her a prominent voice in national conversations.

She moderated Kenya's presidential debates in 2017 and 2022, further strengthening her reputation beyond regular television news audiences.

Her departure attracted emotional reactions from colleagues, with Royal Media Services editorial director Linus Kaikai describing her exit as a significant loss to the newsroom.

How Kenyans are reacting

The announcement of her new appointment was met with congratulatory messages from viewers, colleagues and social media users. Many celebrated the move as an opportunity for Okwara to apply her experience in a new environment.

Her transition also generated curiosity about what comes next after such a long career in front of the camera. The London relocation speculation added another talking point, although her clarification has addressed that question.

A different direction for a media career

Okwara's move highlights how experience gained in journalism can translate into leadership roles outside traditional broadcasting.

Skills such as communication, research, interviewing, relationship-building and understanding public issues can also be valuable in development organisations and strategic partnerships.

For Okwara, the change does not mean leaving public-facing work behind. Instead, it shifts her contribution from reporting and questioning issues on television to helping build partnerships and mobilise resources for programmes focused on young people.

Her next chapter will be watched with interest by Kenyans who have followed her career from the newsroom.