Tag: KTN news

KTN News Shuts Down

Posted on by Baba Ghafla

KTN News, East Africa’s first 24-hour news channel, has officially closed its doors and merged with its sister station, KTN Home. This development has led to widespread discussion and speculation about the reasons behind the closure and the implications for the media industry in the region. The merger has resulted in significant layoffs, reflecting the challenging business environment faced by media organizations.

Standard Media group a week ago announced that it was going to let go of 300 people. The newspaper division used to be the top money-maker for the company and now with news being free on the internet, people barely buy newspapers any more. They have tried to shore things up with online subscriptions, but it is hard to get people to pay for news online when there are so many other free alternatives. Advertising rates online are also not as good as they were in the newspaper. Online, international giants like Google and Facebook call the shots, and they charge very low rates to make media buying more efficient for advertisers.

Nation Media group is also in the same dilemma as a newspaper company. They yesterday announced losses of 600million in the first 6 months of 2024, and their share price has gone down 95% in the last 10 years. There are rumors that both Nation and Standard might be up for sale to privatize the operations if the right buyer shows up.

After two years, Fathiya Nur, another prominent KTN news anchor, steps down

Posted on by Ozymandias

After two years, seasoned media personality Fathiya Mohamed Nur has parted ways with KTN Home, a station owned by the Standard Group.

Announcing her departure on Wednesday, Fathiya expressed gratitude to KTN management for their trust and support during her tenure.

Reflecting on her achievements, the accomplished news anchor and reporter highlighted the launch of her own television program as a significant milestone.

“Time for a brand new story! It’s been almost two years as a News Anchor at KTN News. I’m so, so proud of what I have achieved. Key highlight: Birthing my international news programme, World Report, which is now a flagship show at KTN News! Thanking God for leading me through this journey and onto greater things. Excited for the new chapter,” Fathiya Mohamed stated upon her departure from KTN.

Fathiya initially joined KTN two years ago after departing from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) following a four-year tenure.

Interestingly, Fathiya had previously left KTN in August 2018 to join the BBC before returning to KTN in June 2022.

Upon leaving the BBC for KTN, she expressed her appreciation for her time there, stating, “It’s been a great four years at the BBC. I have learnt and grown so much. BBC has opened many doors for me and I’m always gonna be grateful but for now time for a new challenge. #Alhamdulillah.”

She also extended her gratitude to her colleagues at the BBC and her “breakdown team” for their support and camaraderie.

Throughout her career, the talented journalist has also contributed to CGTN and K24 TV.

 

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A post shared by Fathiya Mohamed Nur (@fathiyamnur)

After five years, another prominent KTN News anchor leaves

Posted on by Ozymandias

Media personality Brenda Czeda Radido recently announced her departure from the Standard Group-owned TV station KTN after a successful five-year stint. In her farewell message on January 31, 2024, Radido expressed gratitude to KTN for shaping her into the journalist she is today and providing her with unexpected opportunities.

In part of her message, Brenda acknowledged the significant role KTN played in her professional journey, stating, “And just like that. My five-year stay at the Standard Group @ktnnews has come to an end. @ktnnews has built me and made me who I am today, the brand BRENDA CZEDA RADIDO. @ktnnews has taken me to places I never thought of nor imagined.”

She extended her appreciation to the KTN management for their support over the past five years and thanked everyone who entrusted her with their stories on the platform. Radido acknowledged the role of God in her journey and expressed deep gratitude to her colleagues and bosses for their belief in her.

Brenda Radido was surprised with a farewell party organized by her colleagues during her last bulletin at KTN. Her departure follows the recent exit of media personality Claudia Naisabwa from KTN, adding to the list of TV personalities and radio presenters who have parted ways with the Standard Media Group.

In a social media post over the weekend, Claudia Naisabwa bid farewell to KTN and announced her departure after three years in the media industry. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the amazing team she worked with, hinting at an upcoming announcement regarding her new professional endeavors.

News anchor Zindzi Kibiku blasts lawyer Ahmednassir for claiming Kenyan TV ladies are picked according to booty and beauty 

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

KTN News anchor Zindzi Kibiku had a heated back and forth exchange with vocal lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi after his recent claims that TV anchors in Kenyan are picked not according to their skills or brains, but according to their beauty and body curves.

The lawyer took to Twitter to claim that TV stations now focus on the two things unlike in the past when true skills were honored.

“Saw this & realized we have many professional ladies i.e Anne Soy, Beatrice Marshall, Sophie Ikenye, Catherine Wambua etc with foreign media & judged on their professionalism, while our local girls on TV seem hired on the size of their bosom & booty,” wrote Abdullahi on Twitter. 

The KTN news anchor wasn’t impressed with his statement and fired back saying that it’s a claim that has been there for long and guys should stop now.

“This is becoming old and outright disgusting.” she said. 

The lawyer fired back, “You can only debunk this with empirical data…then I will listen. Hysteria and emotions won’t help…so go ahead…I am waiting!!!”

“Your statement is equally based on emotions and generalizes all women in broadcast journalism. Share your empirical data too. Then we compare notes. Yes?”  Kibiku replied. 

Women in media

She also went on to explain how women have been subjected to scrutiny when they land such positions.

“Look, for the longest time women in TV have been sexualized and their intelligence downplayed but that’s not where the story ends. There are so many talented female journalists setting the pace. They are brilliant and beautiful. We make no apologies,” she told SDE.

“More than ever our local newsroom have dark skin women with natural air might I add. This is a big win. Small girls can see and appreciate their beauty because they can see someone they relate with,” added Zindzi.

KTN loses yet another anchor 

Posted on by Martin Oduor

2018 has been a bad year for KTN, the station has lost several celebrated journalists to rival stations or to country governments.

The likes of Mashirima Kapombe, Joe Ageyo, Yvonne Okwara left KTN to join Citizen TV. Dennis Onsarigo and Betty Kyallo quit almost at the same time.

Onsarigo joined Taita Taveta county government as the Director of Communications while Betty Kyallo joined rival station K24.

Sport anchor

Abduller Ahmed is the latest journalist to quit KTN, the sport anchor took to social media to announce his resignation from the Mombasa road-based media house.

Abduller Ahmed
Abduller Ahmed

“Kawaida mtoto huanza kutambaa Kisha akasimama na kutembea Dede, anaposhika Kasi huachiliwa ajipimie mwendo, kwa kipindi Cha Miaka mitatu nimepitia hatua zote hizi kwenye runinga ya KTN, umewadia wakati wa kupaa kwa mbawa zangu, Kwanza natoa shukrani za dhati kwa mashabiki wote, pili kwa Shirika la Standard na kikosi kizima Cha KTN, tatu kwa kitengo Cha KTN michezo kikiongozwa na Hassan Jumaa na mwisho kabisa kwa mentor wangu wa nguvu Ali Ole Manzu,” Abduller Ahmed posted on Facebook.

 

KTN TV surprises actress Patrcia Kihoro with a prime time show

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Radio host and actress Patrcia Kihoro has landed a new TV job on Standard Group’s KTN TV.

The actress, who is also a presenter at Homeboyz Radio, is set to host a new show every Friday during the Friday Briefing segment alongside Victor Ocharo popularly known as MC Victor.

Surprise

Not much about the show is out but on social media, Kihoro said that she had been initially informed by KTN to report for an interview but once there she was surprised by the offer.

The two will be promoting online shop Masoko.

“Last night, I got casually dressed, jumped on a boda boda and headed to KTN Kenya for what I thought would be a quick, ten minute interview. Yo! Turns out @mcvictor_ and I will be hosting a small, brand new segment every Friday on The Friday Briefing, talking about @masokoke and the ongoing #MasokoShoppingFestival that’s running till January! Quite the surprise. Turns out the sheer terror I felt wasn’t visible on my face and I didn’t choke. We thank God.” Wrote Kihoro.

 

Citizen TV grabs yet another news anchor from struggling TV stations, poaches Mashirima Kapombe 

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

Lately, TV stations have been struggling to break even as competition stiffens. In the process, one TV station has been winning big: Citizen TV.

Royal Media Services has been poaching presenters and employees left right and center from other TV station as they continue to grow their brand.

Long line up

NTV has been affected more as most if not all anchors are now at Citizen. It seems KTN is also heading on the same patch after Citizen TV managed to convince Swahili news anchor Mashirima Kapombe to join their team.

Mashirima Kapombe

Mashirima moved from NTV to KTN in 2013 after a three-year stint the media house. It’s not yet clear whether what her role at Citizen TV will be but she might be among the once listed to replace Kanze Dena.

 

Did Bonoko’s kibanda food mess Betty Kyalo? She has now been hospitalized

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

KTN news anchor Betty Kyalo has been hospitalized but we are not sure why.

Taking to Instagram, the news anchor shared the that she was taken to hospital, sharing a photo on drip.

 “And just like that I’m in hospital.” she captioned the photo.

We told you

The photo comes just days after Kenyans warned her not to eat food from a kibanda after Radio host Bonoko took her for launch in a popular kibanda in Ngara.

 

 

Senior anchor Yvonne Okwara ditches KTN for Citizen TV

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

It seems like while other media companies are losing, Royal Media Services is still wining big.

After acquiring top journalists from NTV, the media company will now be adding Yvonne Okwara-Matole from KTN, sources claim.  Her impending departure comes after Joe Ageyo, who was the KTN Managing Editor, took up the role of Editorial Director at RMS.

Other journalists who have joined RMS’ include Jamila Mohammed and Victoria Rubadiri.

Okwara will be returning to a company where she started as a Radio journalists almost 11 years ago. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Zoology, Botany and Chemistry from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfFmEPuBKKE/?taken-by=okwarayvonne

KTN news anchor Yvonne Okwara was once a waitress being paid only 150 bob 

Posted on by Pauline Syombua

News anchors have been sharing their journey in the media industry lately explaining how they managed to rise from humble beginnings to become the successful anchors they are today.

After Citizen TV news anchor Lilian Muli came out with her story, KTN’s Yvonne Okwara has now shared hers saying that she used to as a waitress before joining the media industry.

Taking to her twitter handle on Monday, April 9, she narrated how she began employment as waitress at Walkers restaurant earning just but KSh 150 daily. This is after the founder of The Goode Group Al Kags asked people over 35 years to share their first jobs.

“Goodmorning over-35 YO professionals (whichever field). Let’s do some mentorship here – or #twentorship (I know terrible) for the 20YO here. What was your first job like? What did you do? How much were you paid? What was your daily routine like?” he asked.

Use every opportunity to learn

The news anchor also shared that thirst of knowledge is the key reason why she has grown over the years.

“First job was at Walker’s Restaurant at Reinsurance Plaza. Waitress. Earned 150bob a day!” confessed Yvonne Okwara

She added:

“I know, right? Restaurant opened at 9 am. We had to be in at 7 am. Closed at 8 pm. Stayed till 10 pm to clean up. All for 150 bob. But I learned a lot. To respect wait staff and dealing with people! Smile goes a long way. Earned more in tips this way! Mungu ni mkubwa. Hard work. Humility. Passion. Plus using every opportunity to learn is what is key. There is a lesson in everything.” 

Janet Mbugua returns to KTN but not as a news anchor

Posted on by Martin Oduor

Janet Mbugua had a breakthrough while she was working at KTN several years ago. The mother of one has since returned to KTN but not as an anchor.

Janet Mbugua was only 23-years-old when she made her first debut on television as a news anchor reading the late night news.

Farida Karoney approved Janet’s screen tests and she satisfied she was ready for her big break on KTN. Janet worked at KTN from 2007 to 2009 when she left for South Africa to join eTV.

Janet quit eTV in 2011 and returned back to Kenya to join Citizen TV. She worked at Royal Media for six years before she decided to quit TV altogether.

Top story

Janet Mbugua has returned to KTN as a judge on a reality show airing on the station. The 33-year-old has joined John Allan Namu and Chaacha Mwita as the judges on ‘Top Story’ season two which started airing on Thursday December 21st.

Top Story judges Chaacha Mwita, Janet Mbugua and John Allan Namu

Top Story is an investigative journalism competition that brings together the best journalism students from Kenya’s leading universities. These students are then trained and put through different tasks and real outdoor challenges and are expected to do actual stories which then forms the basis for the competition.

“It’s such a privilege passing on your skills and knowledge to a group of young people who are looking to break in to the industry. Top story on KTN, keep it here for details!” Wrote Janet Mbugua.