Waihiga Mwaura Lands Rebranded Show At BBC After Citizen TV Exit

Former Citizen TV prime-time news anchor, Waihiga Mwaura, on Friday, June 2 announced that he would feature in a revamped show at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

He revealed on social media that he will present the Focus On Africa programme which is making a comeback to the British state broadcaster.

"BBC Africa’s flagship news programme Focus On Africa is coming back to your screens with a brand-new look.

Teaser poster for BBC News' 'Focus on Africa' show to be held from June 5, 2023 featuring Waihiga Mwaura. /TWITTER.WAIHIGA MWAURA

"Join our new host Waihiga Mwaura on Monday, June 5 at 16:30 GMT for our first episode of the newly re-launched programme – right from our studio in Nairobi, Kenya," the media house announced.

Waihiga on his part informed his followers and fans that they can catch him on the show at 7.30 pm Kenyan time on June 5.

He had earlier shared a teaser trailer for the new show while in the red-themed broadcast studio, promising that the show to be aired every weekday will offer deeper analysis, conversations and explanations to make sense of news making headlines from Africa and around the world.

Waihiga on Tuesday, May 2, while announcing his exit from Citizen TV after 14 years, revealed that he was joining BBC and had bagged the Focus On Africa show as its host.

"After 14 amazing years at Royal Media Services (Citizen TV), my time here has ended. My next stop is BBC News (Africa) specifically Focus on Africa.

"I'll share more details soon, but in the meantime, see you on my last episode of Newsnight at 9 pm on Citizen TV," he wrote.

BBC also announced that the celebrated news anchor and journalist, who is also a past winner of the BBC News Komla Dumor Award, will present the show from its bureau in Nairobi, Kenya, the first time the programme is being presented in Africa.

On joining BBC, Mwaura expressed his delight at joining the British state broadcaster with a specific focus on telling African stories.

“I am very pleased to be joining the BBC at a time when Focus on Africa will be anchored from the African continent for the first time. I believe 'bringing the show home’ will magnify the show’s impact by drawing in new audiences and helping our global viewers better understand this diverse continent,” Waihiga stated. 

Later on May 2, he was treated to a surprise farewell by his wife, Joyce Omondi, and colleagues, including Trevor Ombija, on his final Newsnight show.

Following his exit, Citizen TV embarked on programming changes, with Waihiga replaced by Yvonne Okwara-Matole who now hosts The Explainer with Yvonne Okwara every Tuesday at 9 pm while Yvonne's Thursday night slot was filled by Sam Gituku dubbed Tonight with Sam Gituku every Thursday at 9 pm.