By GPC News Desk
Journalist Yvonne Okwara has joined Shuga Global as Head of Investments and Partnerships.
The move marks a new chapter in her career after leaving Citizen TV following more than eight years at the Royal Media Services-owned station.
Also Read
Shuga Global announced her appointment on Wednesday, describing her as an experienced corporate communications specialist with a background in fundraising and government relations.
In welcoming Okwara, the organisation said it was seeking to expand its reach and reduce reliance on grants to sustain its programmes.
“Shuga Global understands that our communities need opportunities for expanded reach beyond grant-dependency,” the organisation said in its announcement.
It described Okwara as a “celebrated corporate communications expert, a fundraising maverick and an authority on government relations”.
Her appointment comes a day after she signed off from Citizen TV on Tuesday, ending a career spanning approximately two decades in broadcasting and journalism.
During her farewell broadcast, Okwara thanked colleagues, mentors and viewers who had supported her professional journey, while making it clear that she was not retiring from public engagement.
“After 20 years of building this ship, it is time to build another,” she said, signalling her intention to pursue a new challenge.
She also urged Kenyans to remain engaged in public affairs, saying: “Keep asking questions. Keep demanding better. Keep holding us accountable. Keep holding those in power accountable.”
From the newsroom to the creative sector
Okwara’s move takes her into an organisation that uses entertainment, storytelling and community engagement to address social and health issues affecting young people.
Shuga Global was previously known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation before adopting its new identity in April 2026, following the conclusion of its partnership with Paramount.
The organisation is behind the Shuga franchise, which uses television drama, digital content and community programmes to address issues including HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, relationships and young people’s wellbeing.
In Kenya, its productions include Shuga Mashariki, whose second season premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026.
The organisation has also expanded into podcasts, short films and community-based peer education programmes, working with young people, local production companies and development partners.
Beyond television
Okwara joined Citizen TV in May 2018 after working at KTN News, where she held leadership responsibilities in anchoring, newsroom planning and research.
At Citizen TV, she became one of the station’s prominent news presenters and current affairs journalists, anchoring major bulletins and appearing on News Gang and The Explainer. She also served as Business Editor.
Her career included moderating the 2017 presidential debate and engaging prominent international figures in discussions on governance, business and development.
She holds a degree in microbiology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and completed an executive master’s programme at Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications in 2024.
Her new position places her experience in communications, fundraising and government relations within an organisation seeking to expand its partnerships and creative programmes across Africa.
