Veteran Kenyan journalist Yvonne Okwara has landed a new job barely 24 hours after announcing her departure from Citizen TV, marking a significant change in her career after approximately two decades in the media industry.
Okwara has been appointed Head of Investments and Partnerships at Shuga Global, an organisation that uses media, storytelling and related initiatives to address health and social issues affecting young people.
The organisation announced the appointment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a day after Okwara delivered her farewell broadcast on Citizen TV. Her new role will take her beyond the newsroom into strategic partnerships, investment mobilisation and fundraising.
What Will Yvonne Okwara Do at Shuga Global?
In her new position, Okwara will be responsible for developing strategic relationships, identifying funding opportunities and mobilising resources to support Shuga Global’s programmes.
The organisation is seeking to expand its reach and reduce its dependence on traditional grant funding. Her appointment comes as it pursues a rebranding strategy and strengthens its international presence.
According to Shuga Global’s announcement, Okwara will draw on her experience in business, policy and social impact to build partnerships and help secure resources for the organisation’s work.
The position is different from her previous television role. Rather than presenting news and interviewing political leaders, she will focus on helping an organisation establish partnerships and secure the financial and institutional support needed to sustain its programmes.
The organisation has not publicly disclosed specific fundraising targets or the amount of investment she is expected to mobilise.
What Is Shuga Global?
Shuga Global, formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, is associated with initiatives that use entertainment, storytelling and communication to engage young people on health and social issues.
Its work has included the Shuga drama franchise, which has addressed subjects such as sexual health, HIV prevention and relationships through television and other media formats.
Okwara’s experience communicating complex issues to large audiences could be relevant to an organisation that relies on storytelling and partnerships to reach communities. However, her new responsibilities will also require building relationships with potential funders and development partners, as well as helping secure resources for programmes.
Her Exit From Citizen TV
Okwara announced her departure from Citizen TV during her final appearance on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, ending a tenure of approximately eight and a half years at the Royal Media Services-owned station.
She joined Citizen TV in May 2018 after working at KTN News, having built experience across radio and television over a career spanning around two decades.
During her time at Citizen TV, she became a familiar face through prime-time news bulletins, political interviews and current affairs programmes. She also featured in News Gang and The Explainer, platforms through which she examined political, economic and governance issues affecting Kenyans.
Her interviews and commentary helped establish her public profile as a journalist known for direct questioning and a focus on accountability.
Her departure therefore marks the end of an important chapter for both Okwara and the newsroom, although her move into a different professional role does not necessarily mean that her experience in media will no longer be relevant to her work.
What Did She Say During Her Farewell?
During her final broadcast, Okwara reflected on her professional journey and expressed gratitude to the colleagues, mentors and family members who had supported her.
She also indicated that she intended to pursue a new challenge, telling viewers that she was not done building but was moving to build something else.
Her closing message urged Kenyans to continue asking difficult questions, demanding better and holding those in power accountable.
At the time of her farewell, she did not publicly identify Shuga Global as her next destination. The organisation’s announcement the following day revealed the direction of her career transition.
A New Chapter Beyond the Newsroom
Okwara’s appointment illustrates how experience gained in journalism can be applied to work in communications, organisational leadership and development partnerships.
Her new role will require more than public recognition. Building sustainable partnerships and attracting investment involve identifying potential partners, communicating an organisation’s goals, demonstrating the value of its programmes and maintaining relationships over time.
Shuga Global has expressed confidence in her ability to contribute to those objectives as it seeks to expand its reach and strengthen its financial sustainability. The results of her work will become clearer as the organisation develops its partnerships and pursues its long-term plans.
For Kenyan audiences who have followed Okwara’s work on television, the appointment offers a glimpse of what comes next after her Citizen TV exit. Instead of a familiar face delivering the day’s headlines, she will now take on a leadership role focused on investment, partnerships and social impact.
Her farewell may have closed one chapter of a long broadcasting career, but her appointment at Shuga Global signals the beginning of another professional journey.
Comments
Please keep it respectful. Links, phone numbers and adverts are not allowed and will not be posted.