Highest paid news anchors and radio presenters in Kenya: Currently in Kenya, the media industry has journalists who earn more than Sh. 1 million per month.

Mark you, these journalists do not hold any managerial positions, but are considered ‘crowd movers’ and ‘influencers’ when they hit the airwaves or grace the television.

This in an industry where some journalists take home less than Sh. 20,000 per month. In this feature, though, we take a look at some of the top names and the estimate figures they have been known to take home per month.

The estimated salaries in this feature have largely covered the pre-coronavirus remuneration packages. This is because media houses in Kenya have effected pay cuts in the range of 20 per cent to 50 per cent due to a slowdown in business.

The slowdown is attributed to both the economic impact of the coronavirus and an ailing Kenyan economy that has been in an unofficial recession over the past few years. 

Highest paid news anchors and radio presenters in Kenya List:

11. Shaffie Weru Ksh. 680, 000 (Fired from Radio Africa)

Shaffie Weru shocked many after it was revealed that he was earning Sh. 680,000 per month at Radio Africa’s Homeboyz Radio. Shaffie lost his job in March after making comments about a rape victim that were interpreted as slurs and victim shaming.

10. Mbusi Ksh. 650,000-Ksh. 700,000 (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

Mbusi moved from Ghetto Radio to Radio Jambo where his current salary is a double of what he previously earned at Ghetto Radio.

9. Yvonne Okwara Sh. 200,000 – Sh. 500,000 (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

Yvonne is a media personality whose body of work runs the gamut from powerful interviews, talk shows to news presentation; with experience in radio production, presentation to television content production, interviewing and news anchoring. Yvonne currently works for Royal Media Services after leaving Kenya Television Network, KTN, where she was a Senior Anchor and content producer. She has built a reputation as one of the most thorough journalists in Kenya.

8. Betty Kyalo Sh 180,000-Sh 500,000 (Quit K24 in protest at a Coronavirus pay cut of 50%)

Betty Kyalo is a former news anchor at KTN. Despite the challenges she has faced and public opinion on her marriage life, she still remains on top of her game being among the best news anchors in the country. She is also an entrepreneur; she owns Flaire by Betty, a spa located in Kilimani near Yaya Centre. She left MediaMax’s K24 after a demand that she takes a fifty per cent pay cut. In March 2021, she rejoined KTN after striking yet another lucrative deal. Her stint at KTN was however shortlived.

7. Anne Kiguta Sh 350,000-Sh 600,000 (Coronavirus pay cut 50%. Quit K24 in 2020)

6.  Hussein Muhamed Previously earned ksh 450,000ksh – 1,000,000 ksh (Quit Citizen Tv)

Hussein Mohammed was a senior anchor at Citizen TV of Royal Media Services. He, together with ex-presenter Janet Mbugua Ndichu hosted “The Big Question” news bulletin on Monday’s 9 PM Citizen TV news. He has since quit the media house.

5.  Victoria Rubadiri Sh 300,000 – Sh 600,000 (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

4.  Lilian Muli  Ksh 500,000 – 1,000,000 ksh (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

3.  Churchill Ksh 800,000-Ksh 1m (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

Daniel “Churchill” Ndambuki is a Kenyan comedian who hosts the comedy TV show Churchill Show on NTV Kenya. He also hosts the morning show at Classic 105 together with Maina Kageni.

2. Jeff Koinange ksh 1.5m – 2.5m ksh (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

Jeff Koinange Kenyan journalist and talk show host of Jeff Koinange Live on Citizen TV an affiliate of the largest media group in the country, Royal Media Services since February 2017.

He also previously hosted the breakfast show at HOT 96, the English station owned by Royal Media Services alongside comedian Prof. Hammo.

He previously hosted the show with comedian and MC Jalang’o. He previously served as the Africa correspondent for CNN and CNN International from 2001 to 2007, and later as chief reporter at TV station K24 from 2007 to December 2012.

Before joining KTN, he has also worked with worked with KTN on his brand news program Jeff Koinange Live. He previously served as the Chief Anchor, Africa for Arise Television Ltd based in Johannesburg.

Jeff is reportedly the highest paid journalist in Kenya.

1. Maina Kageni Sh 1.2m -Sh 1.8 m (Coronavirus pay cut 20-40%)

Classic FM’s Maina Kageni leads the rest with a whooping Ksh 1.5 million.This salary is exclusive of bonuses, which amount to millions annually. He is a Breakfast Show presenter at Classic 105 together with Mwalimu King’ang’i (Churchill Ndambuki).

Highest paid news anchors and radio presenters in Kenya.