Veteran KBC Anchor Catherine Kasavuli Dies

Veteran Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) news anchor, Catherine Kasavuli, is dead.

Speaking to the media, KBC acting Managing Director Samuel Maina confirmed the sad news of her demise on Friday, December 30, further confirmed by sources who told Viral Tea.

"It is true. She passed on yesterday night. It is related to the cancer ailment that she's been bravely fighting in the recent past," he said.

In her last post on Monday, December 12, she shared that she was visited by her nephew who had lost his mother to cancer, vowing to fight the disease.

The late veteran KBC news anchor, Catherine Kasavuli. /FILE

"Five years later it strikes again, but this time round, we are well prepared, courageous, optimistic and thankful to evert new day I get to hope courageously," she wrote.

Kenyans across the divide have since taken to social media to mourn the loss of an icon in the media industry.

"It is with profound sorrow that I have learnt of the death of Catherine Kasavuli who, for a long time, has been battling cervical cancer. Of the few female faces that first graced our televisions at news time was that of Catherine Kasavuli.

"She prides as the first female journalist on Kenyan Television, having started her career in 1985. Today, the veteran newscaster has rested," Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale tweeted.

"May Allah grant her soul eternal rest and safe passage into the afterlife."

"Catherine Kasavuli was not only a great media personality who inspired millions in this country but he was also a huge part of the Kileleshwa family. As Kileleshwa, we have lost an icon. 

"To Martin and the greater Kasavuli family, we pray for you. May Mama RIP," added Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai.

On Monday, November 7, Kasavuli was admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

An appeal was sent out to Kenyans across the divide for blood donations after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Since then, the media guru had been regularly updating her fans regarding the progress of her treatment.

Kasavuli returned to KBC during its rebranding in June 2021, eight years after she called time on her stint in the media industry.

Sharing a series of posts on social media, Kasavuli stated that her comeback was a means of inspiring young and aspiring anchors, particularly female anchors, to dream again of reaching the top.

“This Saturday (June 26, 2021) I’m making a comeback on KBC, it's been 8 years. Can a girl just reinvent herself? This is for every girl out there who has the courage to dream again,” read one of her posts.

“One day I’m definitely gonna tell my story. To God be the glory. ReInvent, ReInspire, ReBuild,” read another.

Catherine Kasavuli Profile

The return of Catherine Kasavuli sent shockwaves across the entire country during the station’s rebranding on Monday, June 21, 2021 following the sabbatical she took after serving as the ‘mother of TV’ in Kenya.

Kasavuli first aired news on KBC in 1985 when the station was known as Voice of Kenya (VOK). The soft-spoken and ever-smiling 59-year-old anchor had also worked at KTN and Citizen TV before taking a break.

Veteran anchor Catherine Kasavuli at KBC studios. /FILE

She was the first female news anchor in the country and unbeknownst to many, she has also previously worked with Mediamax-owned station K24.

After being at KTN for 17 years, Kasavuli left the station in 2007 to join Citizen TV. At that particular time, she was part of the mass exodus that saw a number of high-profile news anchors such as Swaleh Mdoe and Louis Otieno leave the Standard Media Group (SMG) station for Royal Media Services (RMS).

It was there that she rose to the position of corporate affairs manager, before leaving for K24 where she later retired from the limelight in 2015.