Yvonne Okwara, whose full name is Yvonne Buliba Okwara Matole, works as a senior news anchor and Business Editor at Citizen TV, a flagship station under Royal Media Services in Kenya. She builds her career around business journalism, political interviews, and moderating high-profile public conversations, earning a reputation as one of the most dependable voices in East African broadcasting. Anyone researching Yvonne Okwara quickly discovers that her professional journey spans radio, television, and public discourse moderation, making her one of the more versatile media personalities in the region.
Early Life and Education
Yvonne comes into the world on March 16, 1983, in Nairobi, Kenya. She grows up in the city and begins her schooling at All Saints Cathedral Primary School before proceeding to Kianda High School for her secondary education. From an early age, she shows an interest in performing and presenting, appearing on a children’s variety programme at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) while still a young student — an early sign of the broadcasting career that awaits her.
After completing high school, she joins the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she pursues a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in microbiology alongside zoology, botany, and chemistry. She graduates in 2006 with a strong science background, a path that seems far removed from journalism at the time. However, life takes a different turn soon after graduation, steering her toward the media industry instead of a laboratory career. This unusual shift from science to broadcasting remains one of the most talked-about details whenever people search for information on Yvonne Okwara.
To sharpen her journalism and leadership skills further, she later becomes a graduate of the Bloomberg/Africa Leadership Initiative Media Fellowship, a programme that grounds her in business reporting and helps position her as an authority on financial and economic news. She also goes on to pursue an Executive Master’s degree and additional certification in sustainability reporting, reflecting her continuous commitment to professional growth even after becoming an established anchor.
Career Beginnings in Media
Yvonne Okwara enters the media world almost by accident, starting out as a young host on a children’s show at KBC. That early exposure to television plants a seed that grows steadily over the following years. In 2006, immediately after finishing university, she joins Hot 96 FM, a Nairobi-based radio station under Royal Media Services, working as a presenter.
From there, her career gathers momentum quickly. She moves to the Nation Media Group in 2008, joining QFM as a radio talk show producer, where she works on Rashid Abdalla’s popular talk show Maskani, a programme focused on political and socio-economic issues affecting ordinary citizens. During this period, she also does voice-over work for NTV’s business programme Money Matters and shadows the host of NTV’s This Morning for several months before earning the opportunity to co-host the show herself.
Rise at KTN and Move to Citizen TV
In 2012, Yvonne signs a five-year contract with Kenya Television Network (KTN), marking a major turning point in her career. At KTN, she pioneers business-focused programmes including Bottomline Africa and later anchors The Big Story, building a strong reputation as a business and political journalist. She rises steadily through the ranks at KTN, eventually taking on strategic newsroom responsibilities before her contract comes to an end in 2018. Rather than renew it, she chooses to explore new opportunities.
That decision leads her to Citizen TV, which she joins in May 2018 as a prime-time news anchor. At Citizen TV, she quickly becomes one of the station’s most trusted faces, fronting flagship programmes such as News Night, News Gang, and The Explainer, shows known for their in-depth analysis of politics, health, business, and the economy. In December 2021, the station promotes her to Business Editor, a role that places her in charge of the business desk while she continues anchoring news bulletins. By 2025, she advances further, taking on the title of Senior News Anchor and Editor in charge of Research and Planning, overseeing editorial direction while remaining a familiar face on air.
Moderating National and International Conversations
Beyond the newsroom, Yvonne Okwara earns recognition as one of Kenya’s most sought-after moderators for high-level public discussions. She moderates Kenya’s presidential debates, including the widely watched 2017 debate and the 2022 debate that features President William Ruto. Her moderation résumé also includes international panels involving global figures such as Melinda Gates, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, Central Bank of Kenya Governor Dr. Patrick Njoroge, former IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu, UNAIDS leadership, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and former African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka. Handling conversations at this level shows the depth of trust placed in her by both local and international institutions, reinforcing her authority in business and political journalism.
In addition to her on-air duties, she serves as a media consultant for Kenya’s National Defence College, chairs the ENACTUS Business Advisory Council that supports youth entrepreneurship in universities, and chairs the Advisory Board of Africa Uncensored, an independent investigative media outlet. She also sits on the board of CBM Kenya, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. These roles highlight a side of her career that goes beyond news anchoring into mentorship, governance, and advocacy.
Awards and Recognition
Years of consistent, credible reporting earn Yvonne Okwara significant recognition within Kenya’s media industry. In 2023, she is voted the best female English TV anchor in Kenya, an honor that reflects both her professional consistency and her standing among peers and audiences alike. Her steady rise from a radio presenter to a national news authority stands as proof of the discipline and preparation she brings to her craft.
Family Life
Yvonne Okwara keeps much of her personal life away from the public spotlight, a choice that many respect given the demanding nature of her career. What is publicly known is that she is married to Andrew Matole, a veterinary surgeon, with the couple tying the knot in 2014. Details about her children remain largely private, as she prefers to keep that part of her life shielded from media attention. This preference for privacy is consistent with how she generally separates her professional persona from her home life, even as her on-air presence remains highly public.
Lifestyle and Personal Interests
Away from the news desk, Yvonne Okwara maintains a lifestyle that reflects her professional success without excessive public display. She is known to value fitness and wellness, and like many senior Kenyan media personalities, she enjoys a comfortable standard of living built from years of steady employment at some of the country’s leading media houses. Specific details about personal vehicles are not part of her public disclosures, as she tends to keep material possessions out of the spotlight, focusing instead on her editorial work and public engagements.
Net Worth
Estimating the exact net worth of any private individual is inherently difficult, and Yvonne Okwara is no exception. Various online sources place her estimated net worth in the range of tens of millions of Kenyan shillings, built primarily through her long-standing career at Citizen TV, her earlier tenure at KTN, and her work as a media consultant and panel moderator for both local and international organizations. These figures remain unofficial estimates rather than confirmed financial disclosures, and readers should treat any specific net worth figure circulating online with appropriate caution until verified by official sources.