Jeff Mwaura Koinange MBS is a Kenyan journalist and talk show host of Jeff Koinange Live on Citizen TV since February 2017. He is also the breakfast host alongside co-host Professor Hamo, at HOT 96, the English station owned by Royal Media Services. He is also a judge representing Kenya at the new East Africa's Got Talent That first premiered on 04th Aug 2019. He previously served as the Africa correspondent for CNN and CNN International from 2001 to 2007, and later as chief reporter at TV station K24 from 2007 to December 2012. Before joining KTN, he has also worked with KTN on his brand news program Jeff Koinange Live. He previously served as the Chief Anchor, Africa for Arise Television Ltd based in Johannesburg. He joined East Africa's Got Talent as a judge alongside Gaetano Kagwa, Makeda and Vanessa Mdee.
Early life and career
Koinange was born in Kenya and worked with Kenya's first independent television channel KTN Kenya Television Network. He attended Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY between 1987–1989 and graduated with an associate degree. He also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from New York University. Prior to joining CNN, Koinange worked for Reuters Television from 1995 to 2001, covering Africa and serving as their chief producer from 1999 to 2001. He also worked as a producer at NBC News in 1994 and also worked for ABC News earlier in his career from 1991 to 1992. He is married to Shaila Koinange.
CNN career
Included among the more significant stories Koinange has covered for CNN in Africa were the crisis in Darfur, the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone and the famine in Niger, for which Koinange won an Emmy award. Most recently, in early 2007, Koinange was reprimanded by the government of Nigeria for his coverage of the Movement for the Emanicipation of the Niger Delta. In his report, Koinange accompanied masked MEND guerillas to a camp where they were holding a number of Filipino hostages. The Nigerian government said that the report was "staged", a charge CNN denies. Koinange has also covered news outside of Africa, including extensive reporting on the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina crisis as well as the Iraq War. On 29 May 2007, CNN announced that Koinange was no longer employed by the network.
Post-CNN career
Seven months after leaving CNN, Koinange was hired as a news anchor by a new Kenyan TV station, K24, which started doing test runs in Nairobi in December 2007. He was the host of Capital Talk Show. He now hosts 'Jeff Koinange Live', a talk show aired on Citizen TV Kenya, part of Royal Media Services.
Book: Through my African eyes
is a biography that talks of Jeff’s life, school days and career climb to be one of Africa’s most recognised journalist. It was published in 2014 by the Footprints Press Kenya. Despite being a public figure, Jeff has kept a lot of his personal life under cover and this book serves as a window into his life.
Philanthropy and Community Work
Jeff has been very instrumental in giving back to the community in different ways. In 2017, he began an initiative to develop and stock a library in the Kibra slums where students from the neighbourhood are expected to gain access to reading material. He has also done notable speaking engagements like the Journalism In Africa forum organised by a community organisation called Fatuma’s Voice in 2016.
Music
Jeff Koinange who is a country music lover appeared with Sir Elvis at the Country Roads event which was hosted at Thika Greens Golf Resort on Saturday, September 28.himself a country music lover) at the Country Roads event which was hosted at Thika Greens Golf Resort on Saturday, September 28. Koinange has appeared with Sir Elvis at other events in the past.
