Veteran KBC Anchor Catherine Kasavuli In Hospital

Veteran Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) anchor, Catherine Kasavuli, is in hospital.

Reports that surfaced on social media as early as Monday, November 7 revealed that she has been admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

An appeal has since been sent out to Kenyans across the divide for blood donations after she has been diagnosed with cervical cancer.

"Dear friends, colleagues and well-wishers. Our dear colleague Catherine Kasavuli is hospitalized at the KNH Private Wing after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.

"For those who can, she needs blood transfusion urgently. Your prayers and moral support will be very welcome," a message from KBC acting Managing director Samuel Maina seen by Viral Tea read in part.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cervix cells, according to Mayo Clinic. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

Worldwide, the disease ranks as the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women and yet is a preventable disease. Cervical cancer ranks second behind breast cancer in low-income countries.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2018, 33 per 100,000 women in Kenya have cervical cancer and 22 per 100,000 die from the disease.

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.

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 has also worked at KTN and Citizen TV before taking a break.

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.

Veteran anchor Catherine Kasavuli at KBC studios. /FILE