Joyce Omondi's Surprise To Waihiga Mwaura On Last Day At Citizen TV [VIDEOS]

Despite Waihiga seemingly caught off guard by the surprise, he argued that Omondi was bound to celebrate him as they worked together at Royal Media Services (RMS).

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
May 3, 2023 - 09:56 Updated: May 3, 2023 - 10:06
0
Joyce Omondi's Surprise To Waihiga Mwaura On Last Day At Citizen TV [VIDEOS]
A collage of Joyce Omondi cutting a cake with her husband Waihiga Mwaura on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Citizen TV studios. /VIRALTEAKE

Former Citizen TV anchor Waihiga Mwaura was on Tuesday, May 2 treated to a surprise farewell by his wife, Joyce Omondi, and colleagues, including Trevor Ombija, on his final Newsnight show.

The celebrated journalist had earlier announced that he was leaving Citizen TV after a 14-year spell to join the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and his farewell was a bittersweet one as his colleagues bid him farewell.

"You are a great person and a fantastic journalist," Ombija stated as he went on to unveil the surprise that was waiting for him.

Despite Waihiga seemingly caught off guard by the surprise, he argued that Omondi was bound to celebrate him as they worked together at Royal Media Services (RMS).

"I actually had a feeling this would happen. Thank you, love," as he hugged his wife.

Omondi had finally fulfilled her wish of surprising Waihiga on-air, where they met, after being married for years. Waihiga has surprised her on live TV quite a few times.

As Joyce appeared on set, a stunned Waihiga broke into a wide smile. He was clearly taken aback by the surprise, and it was heartwarming to see the joy on his face as he embraced his wife.

“I am glad I finally get to surprise Waihiga on air, he doesn’t get surprises. I admire you as a leader, person and human being. You are incredibly talented, so hard working and I see the hours you put in and I just honour it.

“I thank God for opening this door for you and I know your light is going to continue to shine brighter. Listening to the team and all the wonderful things they have had to say about who you are, I want to be like you. I love you, I celebrate you and I will always be behind you cheering you on as your number one fan” she said, melting her husband's heart as the team shared in the joy.

Waihiga on his part was taken aback by the beautiful surprise which brought a lot of emotion on set and a fitting end to his time at Citizen TV.

“My love that is the most beautiful thing anyone has told me today and I have received wonderful and warm messages but yours tops them all. Zile zingine nitakuambia baadaye (the rest I'll tell you later),” Waihiga Mwaura responded before proceeding to thank the Citizen TV team.

The team sang songs and shared a cake on Waihiga's last day at RMS. He also got to see a compilation of videos showing his growth at Citizen TV from being a sports journalist, rising to becoming a news anchor and managing editor.

Read Waihiga's verbatim below as he signed off from Citizen TV:

After 14 amazing years at Royal Media Services, my time here has come to an end. None of this would have been possible without the Lord God Almighty who has guided me every step of the way from 2009 when I began this journey here until today.

This evening, I also want to give thanks to my wife Joyce Omondi, who I coincidentally first spotted on this television channel back in the year 2012. The rest, as they say, is history. I want to thank my family, both nuclear and extended, who have supported my media aspirations.

Let me now focus on Royal Media Services. I want to begin by sincerely thanking the chair and the vice-chair, Dr and Mrs Macharia, for their exemplary leadership. I want to thank our group managing director, Wachira Waruru, for his support, his mentorship, and guidance over the years. And I particularly will remember our Wednesday meetings.

A special thanks to all the directors here, and this includes Linus Kaikai, Carol Wanyama, Latifah Ngunjiri, Fred Afune, Rose Wanjohi, Mike and Moses Karanja, not forgetting the amazing managing editors and editors, the reporters, the cameramen, the video editors, the admin team, security, and technical teams that make this place what it is.

Before I conclude, I want to give a special mention to Citizen Digital, whose brand I've had the privilege to lead and which is today a team I'm truly proud of. Also, not forgetting the features team here that I've worked with very closely, and also an amazing team that makes Newsnight, the show that you watch every Tuesday. I want to thank that team for making it what it is.

I conclude this evening by especially thanking you, our audience out there, for your support over the years. It is because of you that we are able to practice this public good called journalism and provide high-quality news that you tune into every day. And with that, I bid you farewell with my final sign-out here on Newsnight and on Citizen TV.

Tags: