The Kenyan media industry has been graced with many celebrated journalists. The individuals are part of our lives as they are in our living rooms daily to a point of envying them due to the nature of their work. From reading the news to interviewing high profile personalities. We imagine they have great jobs, connections, are famous and thus get special treatment, live large – or seem to, meaning that they are celebrities by virtue of their jobs.
Unfortunately many do not live live this life for as their careers take a different, either for the better or destructive. Today we look at former TV personalities who were admired ages ago but have disappeared without a trace.
Esther Arunga.
Esther Arunga.[Photo/Hivisasa]
Almost a decade ago, Arunga was among the most admired media personality in Kenya. The sassy news presenter captured many through her on-screen presentation. Arunga graduated with a law degree from the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia in 2004 and she appeared on TV for the first time in 2008. Arunga was captivating and convincing. She won the 2008 CHAT Awards for Best News Anchor after making it through the ranks to prime time news.
Trouble started in 2010 when she broke off her engagement to a man identified as Maloba. Arunga eloped with a man she met in church, Quincy Timberlake. She then denounced her parents. For almost two years, no one knew where the couple lived, with rumours circulating that they lived in Dubai, Kayole and finally Australia. In June 2014, news broke all over the Australian Press that Quincy Timberlake had murdered his firstborn son, Sinclair Timberlake. Reports indicate that Arunga is currently practicing law in Australia and to date, efforts to bring her back home have been futile.
Johnson Mwakazi
We can all agree that Mwakazi’s voice was just unique. The former Citizen TV anchor graced many commercials around town. Mwakazi’s career thrived whiLE Citizen TV where he hosted the breakfast show. According to Mwakazi, he was forced to quit Citizen TV since it was his time to grow and explore new challenges.
“I felt that it was time for me to grow, I had been an anchor for a while and the need for change kept clawing at me. It was a great honour to be on Citizen TV television, to have the opportunity to share a message in front of millions of Kenyans, but after that the only question to ask was how did I look and stand? Did I present the question right?”
Currently Mwakazi is running his own PR firm.
Catherine Kasavuli.
[Photo/SDE]
In the 90s Catherine Kasavuli ruled the Kenyan TV industry. Kasavuli started off her career at the KTN Catherine media career began as early as 1980 as a radio continuity announcer with her being barely 18 years of age. It was later in 1985 that Catherine joined the television industry. The glamorous TV presenter who would later command stellar pay packages began her career on Sh1,500 a month, although she earned a few extra coins voicing commercials.
Though she is now aging, Catherine was one hot screen siren. Her fashion sense was incredible, her voice was magnificent. Currently, Kasavuli is off the screen as she is behind the scenes in a leading media house.
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