The late Chris Kirubi’s radio station, Capital FM, mentored major talents, most of whom are celebrated media personalities.
Victoria Rubadiri
The current Citizen TV news anchor began her media career at Capital FM, where she worked as a presenter and reporter from April 2011 to December 2012.
She later landed a job at NTV as a news anchor, reporter, and script editor. She co-anchored NTV’s Prime Time Weekend Edition with Larry Madowo.
While working with Nation media group, Rubadiri also hosted the Victoria’s Lounge show on the same TV station.
She moved to Citizen TV in May 2018 to work as a senior news anchor and won the BBC World News Komla Dumor award in 2020.
Joy Muthengi
She left the Chris Kirubi -owned radio station on December 2020 after working for about a year and seven months. Muthengi had joined Capital FM as a replacement for Cess Mutungi, who hosted The Jam984 for 10 years.
While quitting the station, Muthengi announced that she was taking a break off-media.
“I just want to thank you all so much for embracing me on the Jam984 on Capital FM. I will no longer be on that particular show but your support has meant the world to me.
“I need to take a break for now but I will be back and better as soon as I can. Hip Hop Heads unite,” she signed off.
Before joining the radio station, the media personality worked for Royal Media Services-owned Citizen TV before leaving in November 2018.
She later returned in March 2022 on KTN for ‘The Skin Therapy Show’.
Eric Latiff
In 2003, Latiff joined Capital FM, where he worked as a presenter, producer, programmes manager, newsreader and editor, amassing years of experience.
He was also part of the team that was assembled by Rose and David Kimotho in 2006 when they set out to launch K24 -Kenya’s first 24-hour news channel.
In 2005, KTN offered him a job as a news anchor, and Latiff wanted to retain his job at Capital FM while still working for KTN.
“I needed to seek Kirubi’s consent to anchor the 9 PM TV news while I retained my job at Capital FM. When he came to the newsroom on his routine visits, I nervously whispered to him, fingers crossed,” Latiff revealed.
Kirubi gave the green light on Eric’s idea but on condition that KTN writes to him, acknowledging that Capital FM remained the primary employer. That is how the journalist ended up working for two media houses simultaneously.
When the Mombasa Road-based media house launched Spice FM in 2019, he was named as one of the hosts of the Situation Room – a popular conversational show focusing on political and current affairs.
Latiff has become one of the most sought-after journalists in the media industry owing to his versatility, cutting across TV, radio, print and digital.
Laura Walubengo
Walubengo worked at Capital FM as a presenter before she left for South African firm MultiChoice in 2014, as DStv’s Lead Digital Communications Specialist East Africa.
She later she returned to Capital FM in 2017. Despite the fear of change, she noted that the transition was very rewarding.
At Capital FM, she worked as a news anchor and head of Capital Digital Media.
In July 2018, only after 7 months, Laura quit again to join China Global Television Network (CGTN).
“Moving from Capital to DStv was such a life changer for me. I grew so much and so quickly. My outlook, my ideas, my thought process, my dreams, the possibilities; everything just grew.
“It was so scary leaving Capital FM after 12.5yrs, and it wasn’t an active move but rather a door opening, and I couldn’t peep – I was either in or out. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. Even today! 6 days to 39,” she revealed.
James Smart
He worked at KBC for eight months, then switched to Capital FM before joining Nation Media Group’s NTV.
Smart later joined KTN as a news anchor and host.
After some time at KTN he quit in 2017 to go into private business. In 2020, Smart returned to head podcasting at Nation Media Group, his former employer.
In 2020, Capital FM was hit by a massive exodus of presenters. Among those who left were Amina Rabar, who had served for almost a decade.
Before joining Capital FM, Amina hosted a Saturday Night Show at Homeboyz radio. She currently hosts the Trend Live Show on NTV every Friday 8pm.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE