Yvonne Okwara Lands New Job After Citizen TV Exit

Former Citizen TV news anchor Yvonne Okwara has landed a new role as Head of Investments and Partnerships at Shuga Global.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 28, Shuga Global announced Okwara’s appointment, citing the need to explore opportunities beyond grant-dependent funding.

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"Shuga Global understands that our communities need opportunities for expanded reach beyond grant-dependency. This is why we are beyond excited to introduce our new Head of Investments and Partnerships, Yvonne Okwara," the statement read.

The organisation described Okwara as an experienced professional in corporate communications, fundraising and government relations.

"Yvonne joins Shuga as a celebrated corporate communications expert, a fundraising maverick and an authority on government relations. She has been at the pinnacle of national groundbreaking transformations in journalism and media and has been central to the health of development partnerships that have significantly impacted the lives of millions of people across borders and varying demographics," the statement added.

In her new position, Okwara will be responsible for building strategic relationships, unlocking funding opportunities and mobilising resources to support Shuga Global’s operations and long-term objectives.

The organisation said her experience in business, policy and social impact would be instrumental as it rebrands and extends its presence internationally.

"As Shuga Global rebrands and expands its worldwide reach, Yvonne will leverage her expertise in business, policy, and social impact to build strategic relationships, unlock funding, and mobilize resources. 

"Her leadership will support Shuga Global's two-decade mission of empowering young people by ensuring the organization's long-term sustainability," the statement further read.

Shuga Global was formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation before rebranding in April 2026. 

The organisation recently established a new regional hub in Nairobi as part of its expansion.

Okwara announced her departure from Citizen TV on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, bringing an end to her eight-year stint at the Royal Media Services-owned station, where she established herself as one of the country’s prominent television news anchors and political commentators.

During her farewell, Okwara expressed gratitude to her colleagues for allowing her to practise journalism with confidence and independence, acknowledging the emotional weight of leaving a newsroom where she had spent years developing her career.

"Thank you all of you; thank you for allowing me to practice my journalism as fearlessly as possible. I will miss all of you terribly. I’ll leave it at that before I go viral for crying on TV, which wouldn’t be a bad thing after all," she said.

Her departure also drew an emotional response from Royal Media Services Editorial Director Linus Kaikai, who described the exit as particularly difficult and said the wider media industry would feel the loss.

"The next departure is always tougher than the last one. This is the toughest I have had to deal with in my leadership of the newsroom. The industry will miss you; this is an industry dent, and we want to wish you the very best in your next endeavors," he said.