Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju made a nostalgic comeback to the Kenya Television Network (KTN) studios on Thursday night, anchoring the 9 PM news after about 30 years on-air break.
The comeback is part of KTN’s special “Legends Edition” marking the station’s 35th anniversary. Tuju was among the first news anchors to appear on KTN when the station launched in 1990 as the first free-to-air privately owned television network in Kenya and Africa.
Born on March 30, 1959, Tuju attended Majiwa Primary School and Nakuru West Primary School before joining the prestigious Starehe Boys Centre.
He began his media career as a news anchor for the state-run Voice of Kenya (now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation). He later joined KTN, not only becoming the station’s first on-air news team but also a household name thanks to his good command of the English language.
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He worked as a television producer and communications consultant for both VOK and KTN, before transitioning into documentary production. He was the first African TV producer to win an International Emmy Award for a documentary on health and development.
In 2002, the legendary journalist joined politics winning the Rarieda parliamentary seat on a National Rainbow Coalition ticket.
He served as Minister of Information and Communications and later Minister for Tourism and Wildlife under President Mwai Kibaki, earning the Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH) for his contributions to health, human development, and public service.
Tuju also served as a special advisor on Media and Diversity Management from 2008-2011. In 2017, he became Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, a role he held until resigning in August 2025 to pursue new opportunities.
He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Leicester
