Unknown to many is the fact that before the indomitable couple graced our screens together, there existed media couples who worked at various stations.
In many cases, it happened that one member of the couple appeared on TV regularly while their spouse operated behind the scenes either as a news director, producer or equipment operator.
Below are seven such couples that have worked side by side in the course of their relationships even though at some point they ventured separately.
1. John Allan Namu and Sheena Makena
Ever since tying the knot in 2010, John Allan Namu and his wife, Sheena Makena, have kept their relationship intact but interestingly, also under wraps.
Before becoming an item, the two lovebirds had known each other for a long time. They first met at the United States International University, before reconnecting at KTN when Namu joined as an intern, whereas Makena was a no-nonsense editor.
When their flame was first ignited, Namu was in a long-distance relationship which the investigative reporter admitted was not working at the time.
Later, Makena became pregnant with his baby at a time Namu had gone into exile over a report he had compiled with former Jicho Pevu presenter, Mohammed Ali. It was while in exile that he put matters into perspective and decided to settle down with Makena.
“I told Makena I’m willing to work things out and be part of our child’s life. We went for an ultrasound at 20 weeks and when I was told we were having a boy, I was really excited. This was one of the points in our relationship that really cemented who we are today,” he stated.
After his stint at KTN, Namu ventured out to start his own media company, African Uncensored, which exposes corruption and mismanagement in Africa. According to Makena’s LinkedIn, she works as a senior video editor at Africa Uncensored.
2. Waihiga Mwaura and Joyce Omondi
Citizen TV anchor Waihiga Mwaura and his wife who is a Switch TV presenter, Joyce Omondi, are easily one of the media’s most famous couples, but not many people know that they worked at the same station.
The two met while working at Royal Media Services, where Mwaura was a sports journalist while Omondi hosted the station’s Sunday morning show, Rauka.
Omondi later ditched the Kilimani-based media house to pursue studies in the US before returning to Kenya. The two lovebirds wedded in a private ceremony in Naivasha, in 2016.
One time on her Switch TV show, Omondi recounted that she gave Mwaura a hard time when he fell for her after watching the Rauka show.
“I started this TV show, Rauka, and he was impressed when he saw me and he told his brother. When his birthday came up, he literally invited my whole production crew from my show thinking that we hang out all the time, but I did not show up,” she calmly disclosed.
Waihiga has since been promoted and hosts the famous News Night show on Citizen TV.
3. Amina Abdi and John Rabar
Blessed with one son, NTV’s The Trend show host Amina Abdi and her husband, John Rabar’s love story has been a rather inspiring one.
The story began when Amina joined Homeboyz Radio’s school and emerged top to get absorbed at the station. At the time, Rabar was the CEO but their affair was a guarded secret for a little while.
The two have remained close but managed to keep their marriage under wraps.
Since then, Abdi has also diligently climbed up the ladder in the media industry with stints at Maisha Magic, K24 TV, Capital FM and now NTV.
4. Sam Gituku and Ivy Waitherero
Citizen TV anchor Sam Gituku is the latest case of reporters who have said ‘I do’ to their work colleagues.
On May 25, 2019, the anchor and his wife, Ivy Waitherero, walked down the aisle in an event attended by some of the biggest names in the media industry. The couple exchanged vows at Deliverance Church, Karen and later treated their guests to a reception at Nairobi Academy.
What might not be known to many is the fact that the two work at the Kilimani-based station. Gituku works as an anchor on Day Break while his wife is a news director at the station.
Sam Gituku has been a journalist at Citizen TV since November 2014. Waitherero graduated from Daystar University with a degree in Communication.
5. Nancy Onyancha – Joab Mwaura
Another case of love brewed in the newsroom is that of K24 TV presenters Nancy Onyancha and Joab Mwaura.
The two grew fond of each other while working at the station, engaged in March 2017, before finally tying the knot in August 2018.
“Eight years of friendship and within the eight years, there are three years of tea and laughter, moments of blood, sweat and tears,” shared Onyancha during their traditional wedding.
Onyancha works as the station’s anchor while Mwaura is an assignment editor.
6. Evelyne Wambui and Karuri Nyaga
Former Citizen TV staffers, who met while working at the station, tied the knot in a lavish ceremony that was aired on the station in September 2014.
The two had been dating for a long time before making it official.
Their ceremony was attended by numerous media heavyweights including Francis Gachuri (who was among groomsmen), Lulu Hassan, John Allan Namu and Larry Madowo.
The two have, however, left the media house since. Wambui worked as a features reporter. Nyaga moved to CCTV Africa.
7. Wycliffe Orangi and Sheila Ochieng
Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale and the highest happiness on earth is the happiness of marriage.
On Saturday, September 7, Citizen TV news anchor Wycliffe Orangi officially exited the bachelor’s club as he tied the knot to Sheila Achieng‘.
The ceremony took place at CITAM Karen in Nairobi.
Their love story brewed at Royal Media Services, where Wycliffe works as an anchor and radio journalist on Hot 96 FM, while Sheila worked in the human resource department.
Sheila served as the deputy head of human resources before she left in early 2019.
