Five media personalities that hit headlines in 2018

Celebrities all over the world are a great source of news. This year has seen a number of Kenyan media celebrities making headlines for completely different reasons. From Kanze Dena to Betty Kyalo, here are some of the reasons why these celebrities made news;

Kanze Dena

Kanze Dena’s appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Deputy State House Spokesperson in June 2018 is by far the biggest celebrity news that took Kenyans by a storm in 2018. The former Citizen TV news anchor got promoted and is now the State House Spokesperson.

“As part of diversifying the voices from the Presidency, focusing the concept of messaging with purpose, President Kenyatta has appointed seasoned television news anchor Kanze Dena, 39, as Deputy State House Spokesperson and Deputy Head, PSCU,” read the statement from Nzioka Waita, The Chief of Staff and Head of the President’s Delivery Unit.

Betty Kyalo

Celebrated media sensation Betty Kyalo also surprised many of her fans after she exited Standard Media Group in August after working there for about eight years. Betty, who was popular for her show ‘Friday Briefing’, is currently working with K24. Her exit came after popular news anchors Vyonne Okwara and Mashirima Kapombe left Standard.

Larry Madowo

Mr Madowo’s exit from Nation in March also came as a surprise to many. Larry, who was popular for his show ‘The Trend’, joined BBC Africa as a Business Editor days after his exit.

“I leave NTV Kenya as I came: humbled & grateful. The job was one of the great honours of my life. Thanks to everyone who watched, and to Nation for the privilege of the opportunity. I’m proud of my amazing colleagues & everything we accomplished. Farewell, my friends,” he posted on his social media account.

Joey Muthengi

Former Citizen TV’s Joey hit the headlines after her billboard photos with Kenyan international football ace McDonald Mariga went viral on social media. The two were rumored to be dating until Joey set the record straight.

“No. We are not dating. The Milan outing was a business trip with a betting company (the billboards are up in Nairobi). Mariga is a very good professional friend of mine and our trip to Italy was purely work,” she told Pulse.

Jacque Maribe

Ms Maribe hit the headlines in September after she was involved in the gruesome murder of Monica Kimani. Maribe, who was arrested alongside her fiancé Joseph Irungu, spent a couple of days in prison as she awaited her arraignment. Maribe was however freed on a Sh2 million bond by Justice James Wakiaga and barred her from reading news or conducting interviews on matters related to the case.