Long-time news anchor at the Royal Media Services (RMS)-owned Citizen TV, Hussein Mohamed, is headed to a new home after leaving the station.
Mohamed who has been at the Maalim Juma Road address for a decade is joining others who left the station earlier including Terryanne Chebet, Janet Mbugua, Fred Indimuli and Anne Kiguta.
His colleagues at the station said they were caught off-guard by the tweet on Friday morning. Even senior editors were not aware of the decision to leave one of the biggest TV stations in Kenya.
Having joined Citizen TV in 2008, Hussein leaves the station having grown professionally through the ranks.
The TV presenter has maintained a low profile and little is known about him beyond the TV screen.
So secretive is he that many do not know that he is married since 2014.
He got married to his wife Malyun at the Masjid Nur in South C in a traditional Islamic ceremony.
Despite not announcing his next port of call, Mohamed could be headed to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera. The station has become one of the world’s anti-establishment mouthpieces especially on the war against terror.
Among the notable Kenyans who work at Al Jazeera include Catherine Wambua-Soi who joined the station after leaving KTN in 2008.
She is Al Jazeera’s East and Central Africa producer.
According to the TV station, her role covers Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.
She has covered major stories for Al Jazeera in the region including Somalia’s elections and the recent assassination bid of the Somali president.
Wambua-Soi has covered the ongoing conflict between M23 rebels and the government in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as well as South Sudan’s independence and the conflict between rebels and the government in Sudan’s Blue Nile region.
There are several Kenyans working in international media houses and who have left a mark.
Some of these hold senior positions in the respective media houses.
While some have left, they have trail-blazed for those who want to work for these international news outlets.
As at the time of his leaving, Mohammed was the Newsnight show host. While working in another local station has also not been ruled out, it is yet to be seen if the journalist will join stations like K24 which just recently sent some staff packing.
It also would not be a missed opportunity if he joined KTN which has a 24-hour news channel or the Nation media group which is shorthanded when it comes to on-air talent.
The show aired on Tuesday night where politicians and other personalities discussed matters affecting the country.
does it mean that CITIZEN TV cannot give Hussein what he wants to keep him? even me i will switch to another station, Hussein was my favourite anchor. I will follow him whenever he goes
It could also mean that he needs change which is as good as rest…
people do not change working stations just necessarily for negativity, remember a change is good as rest
congrats my brother.Truely speaking clouds are not the limit. Keep on aiming more higher.
he was a passionate anchor. yah there is time for everything. u have left a trail blazed way for others to follow. hope you have also trained others to your best of knowledge? thanks for creating an opportunity for others to rise. you are a hero.
I will miss Hussein and what I loved most I Citizen TV. I don’t know my future on watching the station without this competent man. OH,,,,MMYY!!
It’s fine , too grow and advance too others levels…
Leave the corrupt Kenya and get peace elsewhere.niko nyuma yako
Hussein were my favorite anchor and I liked your mahojiano I will miss your work too
Oh no…Hussein, I will personally miss your gleaming teeth!! Great talent exported to foreign destination,not good .congrats! Gudluck in your next station.you are a wonderful Caster!
What a great news anchor that I will miss! So sad that you are leaving the rms.God bless you on the new path you have taken.
Hussein Moha you gave your best, you left us yearning for more, since you had decided the best way to go, I wish you all the best in life wherever you go, may God be your guide always, thanks Moha,
It is now long time please come back Hussein I miss you on air.
As much as I liked Hussein on Citizen TV, I’ll follow your best talent wherever it takes you… You’re my best news anchor!