Veteran TV Broadcaster Catherine Kasavuli Dies from Cervical Cancer

Veteran television news anchor Catherine Kasavuli has passed away after a short battle with cervical cancer.

The news about her demise was announced by acting Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Managing Director Samuel Maina on Friday.

Kasavuli, who was Kenya’s first female news anchor, died on Thursday night while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where she was admitted on October 26th.

In November, colleagues and friends in the media industry appealed for blood donation for Kasavuli after she was admitted to the hospital’s private wing.

Kasavuli, 60, is credited with breaking the glass ceiling for female TV journalists in the country. The deceased began her career in 1980 as a radio continuity announcer at the Voice of Kenya, which was later renamed KBC.

In 1985, Kasavuli switched over to television at the State-owned broadcaster and worked for two years without any prior professional training before enrolling in the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.

Kasavuli joined the founding group of KTN, Kenya’s first privately owned television station, in March 1990. She changed the station’s pre-recorded format and was the first anchor to broadcast live.

After working for KTN for 17 years, Kasavuli left the network in 2007 to work for Royal Media Services’ Citizen TV, where she later held the position of corporate affairs manager. 

In 2015, Kasavuli retired from the spotlight to work behind the scenes but she returned to KBC in 2020, where she hosted the Legend Edition.

President Ruto led Kenyans in mourning the passing on of veteran TV news broadcaster, whom he described as a cheerful, articulate and intelligent news anchor who took to television with unprecedented flair.

“Her pleasant smile, clear steady voice, and elegance made her a welcome presence and reassuring bearer of news to Kenyan living rooms for decades. Countless Kenyans watched her with great admiration and many children grew to emulate her,” said Ruto.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kasavuli was a great role model and mentor to many women journalists in the country.

 “Her commitment and diligence in her work at then Voice of Kenya (VOK) where she started her broadcasting assignments made her stand out as a talented newscaster and she went on to become a household name,” Uhuru said.