Catherine Kasavuli

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Catherine Kasavuli (born 1962) is a Kenyan news presenter. Kasavuli was the first female news anchor in the country and has previously worked in other leading television stations including The Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Citizen Television and Kenya Television Network (KTN).

Career[]

Kasavuli started her career as a radio continuity announcer in 1980 at the Voice of Kenya, which was renamed to KBC in later years. Her uncle, who had listened to her reading the Bible and praying for dinner, advised her to apply for the job. She was barely 18 years at the time.[1] Kasavuli would later transition to television at the company in 1985. Kasavuli had no prior professional training and two years into her job, she went to the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication. In March 1990, Catherine became part of the founding team of KTN as the first privately owned television station in the country. She became the station's first anchor to go on live broadcast, a shift from the previous pre-recorded format.[2] Other than being a TV presenter, Kasavuli would voice commercials to supplement her earnings.[3]

After being at KTN for 17 years, Kasavuli left the station in 2007 to join Citizen TV, owned by Royal Media Services. She was part of the mass exodus that saw a number of high-profile news anchors such as Swaleh Mdoe and Louie Otieno leave the Standard Group owned TV Station for Citizen TV.[4][5] She would later hold the position of corporate affairs manager at Royal Media Services, the parent company of Citizen TV.[2] In 2015, Kasavuli retired from the limelight to work behind the screens.

However towards the end of July 2021 which is eight years later since she went off the limelight to focus on corporate matters ,Kasavuli made a grand comeback and graced the Kenyan TV screens after signing a deal with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) where she is currently anchoring weekend news.[1] “I wanted to come to KBC to train anchors to hone their skills but never expected an offer of this magnitude,” says Ms Kasavuli, a soft spoken and ever-smiling lady who has kept her personal life private. “It’s amazing and exciting, I am truly humbled by the gesture and warmth I have received from the KBC fraternity and Kenyans.”

Personal life[]

Kasavuli has one son, Martin, who was born in 1981. Catherine has reportedly stated that she had to leave him home to attend to her demanding career and regrets missing the early moments of his childhood.[6] After retiring from television, she founded Kasavuli Media Group Limited which owns several subsidiaries including a training school for broadcasters.[7]

Awards[]

In 2008, Kasavuli received the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya during Jamhuri Day Celebrations.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Nairobian, The. "Veteran Kenyan news anchor Catherine Kasavuli: From humble beginnings to TV queen". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  2. ^ a b Githuku, Emmanuel. "Meet The First Anchor to Broadcast Live News on KTN". Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  3. ^ Mukei, Cate. "Catherine Kasavuli: The city girl who defined 'This is KTN'". SDE. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  4. ^ Ndirangu, Stella. "Strategic Responses by Kenya Television Network broadcast programming to the changing competitive environment". UON Digital Repository. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Jeff Koinange's huge salary threatens to bring down Citizen TV". Business Today. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. ^ Mukei, Cate. "Minus a house girl Catherine Kasavuli took her baby Martin, to the studio". SDE. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Catherine Kasavuli: Meet the news presenter who once earned Sh. 1500". Pulse Live. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. ^ Omanga, Beuttah. "President awards journalists". Standard Digital. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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