Jeff Koinange facts for kids

Jeff Mwaura Koinange (born on January 7, 1966) is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He is famous for hosting Jeff Koinange Live, a popular talk show on Citizen TV that started in February 2017. Jeff has also worked as a radio host on HOT 96, a station owned by Royal Media Services.

He was a judge for East Africa's Got Talent, a show that first aired on August 4, 2019. Before that, Jeff worked as a correspondent for CNN and CNN International in Africa from 2001 to 2007. He was also a chief reporter at K24 TV from 2007 to December 2012. Later, he joined KTN to host his own news program, Jeff Koinange Live. He also worked as a chief anchor for Arise Television Ltd in Johannesburg.

Jeff Koinange's Early Life and Education

Jeff Koinange was born in Kenya. He is one of the grandsons of Koinange Wa Mbiyu, a respected figure. Jeff started his career working with KTN, which was Kenya's first independent TV channel.

From 1987 to 1989, he studied at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York, where he earned an associate degree. He then went on to get a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from New York University.

His Career Before CNN

Before joining CNN, Jeff Koinange worked for Reuters Television from 1995 to 2001. He covered many stories across Africa and was their chief producer from 1999 to 2001. In 1994, he worked as a producer at NBC News. Earlier, from 1991 to 1992, he worked for ABC News.

Working as a CNN Correspondent

Jeff Koinange covered many important stories for CNN in Africa. These included the crisis in Darfur, the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the famine in Niger. For his work on the famine in Niger, he won an Emmy Award, which is a very prestigious award for television.

He also reported on news outside of Africa. He covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the US and reported extensively on the Iraq War. On May 29, 2007, CNN announced that Jeff Koinange was no longer working for the network.

After His Time at CNN

Seven months after leaving CNN, Jeff Koinange became a news anchor for a new Kenyan TV station called K24. This station began its test broadcasts in Nairobi in December 2007. He hosted a show called Capital Talk Show. Today, he hosts 'Jeff Koinange Live' on Citizen TV Kenya, which is part of Royal Media Services. He is also a main news anchor for the same station.

His Book: Through My African Eyes

In 2014, Jeff Koinange published his autobiography titled Through My African Eyes. The book was published by Footprints Press Kenya. In it, he shares stories about his school days and how he worked his way up to become one of Africa's most recognized journalists. Even though he is a public figure, he has kept much of his personal life private, so the book gives readers a special look into his life.

Giving Back to the Community

Jeff Koinange is very active in helping his community. In 2017, he started a project to create and fill a library in the Kibera slums. This library allows students from the area to easily access reading materials. He has also given important speeches, such as at the Journalism In Africa forum in 2016, which was organized by a group called Fatuma's Voice.

Jeff Koinange's Love for Music

Jeff Koinange is a big fan of country music. In September 2019, he appeared with Kenyan singer Sir Elvis at the Country Roads event held at Thika Greens Golf Resort. Jeff had also performed with Sir Elvis at other events before this.