Top 5 female TV news anchors in Western Kenya

With an increase in TV stations and progressive employment policies in media, female news anchors in western Kenya are becoming more visible than before. Thanks to communication Authority of Kenya, the rise of Digital TV stations has also created fast rising female newscasters who are beating odds to shine in the media industry.

They have changed the broadcasting atmosphere thanks to their efforts in redefining reading news in the region.

Besides reading news items and interviewing guests, they have become celebrities, thanks also to their ability to simplify complex news items.

In addition, unlike their male, some, dramatic counterparts, they perfectly show empathy in sad news and grins in inspirational stories. Their ability to personalise the news and relate to people has made them popular on and off the airwaves.

If you love watching the news in western KENYA TV’s, then you will agree that it has a lot to do with the presentation. This is something that the news presenters on this list are now mastering. While there are many female news anchors in western Kenya, only a handful have made it to the very top. If you are an aspiring female news presenter, this list should inspire you.

1. Ridah Chebet Kering

Ridah Chebet is a senior anchor at Maisha TV and an astounding talk show host and human interest reporter earning the station high ratings.

Maisha TV is the only TV to ever win KUZA awards Fastest growing News, Information, educational and entertainment Station in the region

Before moving to Maisha TV as the 8:00pm English news anchor in February 2021, Ridah volunteered in different media houses in Mombasa. The young, sassy lass is the host of the popular show, Prime talk that runs Monday to friday after news bulletin at 8PM.

The programs have gannered massive following and cover daily different topics including health on Monday and education matters on Tuesday. The Wednesday talk show focuses on women empowerment with discussions that aim at creating conversations around women and empowerment.

Ridah is also a believer that a good story or discussion must initiate change and that’s why she runs political and leadership discussions on Thursdays. She is also synonymous with fact-checking and debunking political misinformation.

Thanks to her experience and unmatched grilling skills, Ridah chebet also runs Prime E-Talk, the entertainment talkshow that focuses on building talents every Friday too. While she is on prime news time, her new role in the Talk shows has redefined her brand as a versatile news anchor.

The Lugulu girls High school and Technical University of Mombasa alumnus also worked as a business journalist, Documentary specialist and helped contribute content for TUMO radio at Technical University of Mombasa before shifting to TV.

When she moved to the fastest growing Maisha TV, she also diversified to cover special reports, especially around empowerment, mental health, and governance. The multifaceted journalist has been on TV for less than a decade yet her recognition is quickly becoming an approval stamp of her work and efforts to change the world through media.

2. Faith Jepchirchir

Apart from being one of the most popular Tandao TV female presenters, she is loved by viewers because of her quick mastery of Kiswahili and english presentation In addition to anchoring the 7 PM and 1pm news.

Besides being one of the loved anchors in western Kenya, one of her most significant projects was on “sociàl matters” in Western. The reports prompt policymakers to put measures to regulate social vices.

The beautiful flower anchor is also a long serving employee at the station whom many believe with her experience, besides ensuring that the news items are par with the station’s standards, stands to mentor junior reporters and newscasters in the industry.

3. Jeptanui Chebii

Jeptanui Chebii is fresh blood in western Kenya, bold, smart, and eloquent Nyota TV news anchor. Although she runs breakfast show daily, her signature night news bulletin is one of the most-loved TV segment.

Jeptanui is a writer, art enthusiast, and a professional Journalist whose work elegance illuminates screens keeping viewers glued to their screens during her programs. Before joining Nyota TV, the journalist has had a privilege of interviewing top personalities and leaders such as Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen and professor Margaret Kamar in her Media journey before. With such top class experience, she is indeed a fast rising star.

4. Nancy Chanji

Nancy Chanji is, without a doubt, another decorated female Kiswahili anchor in western Kenya. Apart from anchoring the 8 PM bulletin on TV magharibi, viewers resonate with her because of her strong personality, mastery of kiswahili and her empathy while presenting kiswahili bulletins.
Apart from news, she also has wowed viewers with her women empowerment feature program “Mwanamke Ngalacha” that focuses on showcasing women’s abilities in building societies.

Nancy is a social provocateur. The Nairobi aviation college alumnus has anchored well sructured stories that become conversation starters on different subjects. She is also married to the renowned Media personality James chanji AKA Mshamba and CEO of Western Television Company and Evergreen LTD.

Before joining the station, she worked at Kenya kona group.

5. Millicent Kubai. Millicent Kubai is a Kiswahili news anchor on West TV. The mother of three also takes other roles, such as writing and editing news items. Ms. Kubai is not only one of the pioneers of news bulletins in regional TVs working as managing editor for the Kiswahili news desk , she is also a pioneer anchor for the 8 PM news, and currently takes on Mondays. Her program is one of Kiswahili’s most-watched bulletins in the region earning the media house significant ratings.

Apart from being one of the most celebrated pioneer news anchors in the region, Millicent is a political-Human interest reporter in KAKAMEGA. She is not afraid to call out inequality, especially against women and children. Due to her stand on equality, Millicent is a role model and an inspiration to many girls across the western counties.

The above 5 anchors are setting the pace for future female presenters in western KENYA. Due to their successful TV careers, some have began to venture into TV production, business, advocacy, and charity.
Don’t be fooled to think that the rise of these journalists have been easy, they all share history of hardwork, persistence, and excellence. Many hold managerial positions in the stations.

Their daily package of work runs the gamut from powerful interviews, talk shows to news presentation; with experience in radio production, presentation to television content production, interviewing and news anchoring. 

They are now considered ‘crowd movers’ and ‘influencers’ when they hit the airwaves or grace the television.
All in all, they are the best, and remain on top of their game being among the best news anchors in the country. 

Story by Oduch Brian