Veteran TV queen Catherine Kasavuli takes her last bow after cancer battle
Veteran news anchor Catherine Kasavuli.
Veteran journalist and prime-time news anchor Catherine Kasavuli, who died on Thursday night, was, for nearly three decades, the epitome of news casting in Kenya. She was a trailblazer many had gotten used to seeing on their televisions from the 1980s when she entered the scene. She was 60.
She built a career spanning four decades, including a 2020 comeback to host the Legend Edition show every weekend on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Two years after joining KBC, Ms Kasavuli enrolled at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) for training in broadcast journalism, setting her off on a path of greatness.
For the three TV stations she worked for—KBC, Kenya Television Network (KTN), and Citizen TV—she became its face, with her pronunciation, voice, and dressing picked out by many Kenyans as trendsetting. After a decade at KBC, she took a leap of faith, joining what was Kenya’s first private-owned TV station, KTN, when it was opened in 1990.
As one of the star news anchors at the nascent station, Ms Kasavuli set the pace with the likes of legendary Njoroge Mwaura, former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju and Fayaz Qureshi.
After a successful stint at KTN, Kasavuli joined Royal Media Services (RMS) in 2007 as a news anchor and corporate affairs manager. The following year, she was feted with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) Presidential Award by then-President Mwai Kibaki.
And, even though she took a temporary bow from the screens in 2015 to launch an independent media company — Kasavuli Media Group — she still remained in the hearts of many Kenyans and inspired young and upcoming journalists.
In 2021, after a seven-year hiatus, Kasavuli returned to KBC as an anchor. Her return was short-lived, as she fell ill last year and disclosed that she had for a while, been battling cervical cancer.
Yesterday morning, she took the last bow. KBC Managing Director Samuel Maina, while relaying the news about her death, said the TV icon had battled cancer for some years and had died at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Only last week, colleagues and media practitioners launched a social media campaign to raise funds for Ms Kasavuli’s treatment. Earlier in November, colleagues and friends in the media industry mobilised a blood drive after she was admitted to KNH in late October.
Following the news of her death, colleagues in the media fraternity sent condolence messages and praised her as a veteran journalist who has left a gaping hole in the industry.
Kasavuli, in her personal capacity, has in the past helped many people seeking medical treatment. She would use her social media platforms to mobilise Kenyans to raise funds for patients seeking urgent treatment. The most recent case was of a baby who was born with a congenital abnormality.
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Known for her elegance and beautiful journalistic wordplay, she died surrounded by close friends and family. Several national leaders and journalists came out to mourn the veteran news anchor.
Among the leaders were President William Ruto, who hailed Ms Kasavuli’s good mastery and articulation that entranced the nation. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kasavuli made several achievements in the broadcasting industry that made her a role model and mentor to women journalists in the country.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also comforted the family, friends and relatives over the demise of the legendary journalist. State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed hailed the late TV queen as a gentle and pleasant person who positively influenced his fledgling career in the newsroom.
“I worked with Kasavuli as I was beginning my journalism career. Working your way up as a novice reporter and news anchor is quite difficult but she made it easy because of her gentle soul and easy-going nature. Pole Sana to the family and friends. May God give you the fortitude to bear,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua also praised Ms Kasavuli for breaking the glass ceiling in news anchoring in the country.
“She will forever be revered as a pioneer female TV news anchor in Kenya credited with breaking the glass ceiling for other female TV journalists as well as setting high standards in news anchoring. She was a passionate and astute professional who graced our TV screens for decades,” Dr Mutua said.
Other leaders who also mourned her were First Lady Rachel Ruto, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru, and Kanu National Chairman Gideon Moi among others. Fellow journalists hailed Kasavuli for setting the bar of journalism standards in the country. According to veteran journalist Kathleen Openda, who worked with her in the 1990s at KTN, Kasavuli, besides anchoring news, was a great mentor who helped bring out the best in her colleagues.
“Working with her was joyous. She would always support you and she had such a wonderful spirit that endeared her to people.” Ms Openda said. Mr Wachira Waruru, the Managing Director of Royal Media services, she was a joyful colleague who was resourceful whenever called upon.
“Catherine will be remembered as an outstanding trailblazer in the broadcast media industry in Kenya. From the early 90s she graced our television screens with her eloquent and authoritative presentation of news, rising to become one of the most compelling prime-time TV personalities,” Mr Waruru said. Aga Khan University’s Prof Nancy Booker said she drew her inspiration to join the field of journalism after watching her present news.
Journalist Enock Sikolia said remembered how motherly she was to him in his nascent stages at the media industry.
BBC Journalist Ferdinand Omondi also hailed her as a good teacher and mentor.
“She was a graceful senior colleague, a calm teacher, and a respectful mentor,” Mr Omondi posted.
Last evening, her family, through her eldest son Martin, appealed to the public to help raise Sh4 million to offset medical bills accrued at the Kenyatta National Hospital as well as the Nairobi Hospital.
“We anticipate further bills at the funeral home and costs of interment, which cost we can’t estimate now,” the family said.
The contributions channels are Mpesa Paybill Number 8089700 with the Account Number being Catherine Kasavuli.
