Olive Burrows news Archives

6 celebrity media couples who parted ways in sad goodbyes

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Gloria Katunge

The media industry has housed multiple outstanding personalities over time, some who had to make exits we never saw coming, others whose chemistry lured fans to tune in to this station or that channel only for the end to come too soon.

Be it on TV, be it on radio, Kenyans have had to witness some of the most unpleasant goodbyes among media couples, leaving wounds that might never get healed unless these duos make major comebacks. Let’s start off:

1. Janet Mbugua and Hussein Mohamed

The former Citizen TV’s Monday Special duo split in 2015 while at the Royal Media studios as Janet left for maternity leave but never came back, leaving behind Hussein Mohamed to co-anchor with Jacque Maribe before the two later made their exit as well.

2. Lulu Hassan and Kanze Dena

The tale of Lulu and Kanze is one of best friends who we never ever thought would part until the latter landed a lucrative State House job in 2018 where she has been working since. Meanwhile, Lulu was paired with her beloved, Rashid Abdalla.

3. Kalekye Mumo and Shaffie Weru

Kalekye and Shaffie was one of the most popular and favorite radio duo Kenya has ever heard, with personalities perfectly complementing each other but unfortunately, the Kamba doll had to leave in 2016 as Shaffie paired with Adelle Onyango.

4. Victoria Rubadiri and Larry Madowo

A speculated screen chemistry many hoped would blossom into a love story without an ending, only for Larry to soon after leave NTV for BBC in 2018, where he has since been making major moves.

5. Olive Burrows and Dennis Okari

Olive Kalekye Burrows was one lady who stirred lots of controversy after an alleged screen chemistry with Dennis Okari just after his marriage with Betty Kyallo had started becoming wobbly, before the two were eventually separated on air.

6. Andrew Kibe and Kamene Goro

The unfortunate story of Kamene and Kibe is one that probably still hurts, a match so perfect but it had to be done in June 2020 after Kibe handed in his resignation, thereafter getting replaced by Jalang’o.

“I’m working on it.” NTV news anchor Olive Burrows explains why she can’t speak Kamba despite growing up in Kenya

Posted on November 27, 2018November 27, 2018 by Pauline Syombua

Olive Burrows Kalekye. That’s her real name and who in the world would have guessed she’s Kamba.

The NTV news anchor recently opened up about her Kamba background in a sit down with Nation and gave an explanation on why she can’t speak her language despite growing up in Kenya.

“I have always wanted to (to speak Kamba). I think that is one of my biggest mistakes. I have a four-year-old nephew who speaks Kamba so fluently. The other day he was asking me questions about body parts by pointing at them, the way kindergarten teachers do,” said Olive Burrows.

Kamba Culture

She added that her mum never spoke Kamba and therefore nothing in her surrounding promoted her Kamba culture but she’s working on learning the language.

“My mum never spoke to me in Kamba and then our teachers would encourage us to speak English and Kiswahili. I grew up in Nairobi West and attended Malezi Primary School in Lang’ata, then Kenya High School. I never met any of my grandparents and my mother was a single parent but now I’m working on it.” she said.

Olive Burrows speaks for the first time since her on-screen sweetheart Dennis Okari got married

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Martin Oduor

Dennis Okari and Olive Burrows’ onscreen chemistry wowed many people, the two were paired up after the restructuring that followed the exit of some journalists from the Kimathi street-based media house.

Okari has been implored multiple times to marry Burrows from the very first time they anchored news together, on Monday night July 16th 2018.

But apparently Okari was dating another lady already, he was keeping his relationship on the low. Okari tied the knot in a secret traditional wedding held in Ukambani on October 27th.

It was never going to happen

Olive Burrows recently talked about her chemistry with Okari during an interview with Nation. The NTV revealed why she was never going to date her workmate.

Nation: Who shared the pictures of you helping him (Okari) out with makeup and tying his tie? Explain the chemistry between the two of you?

Olive Burrows: That picture was not taken with our knowledge. I’m a woman. Deno is a guy. And, not that I have much experience with makeup, he was sort of doing the wrong thing with the brush and I wanted to help him. I can say we have grown comfortable with one another and that is a thing I would do for a friend. Our chemistry is genuine.

Nation: After that, the picture went viral and people encouraged you to get married, what do you say?

Olive Burrows: That is not gonna happen.

Nation: Okari has been in the industry for a while, what went through your mind after you were paired to anchor news together?

Olive Burrows: We had never met before, I don’t know, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if he was someone who is friendly or a snob. Deno was himself and he allowed me to be myself. He was honest with me. He kept telling me to slow down because I speak very first. He helped guide me and improve my skills.

6 new faces on KTN and NTV news-desk that are taking over Kenyan television

Posted on September 13, 2018September 13, 2018 by Martin Oduor

There was a major media realignment in Kenyan television after Citizen TV raided NTV and KTN and poached some of their best journalists.

Nimrod Taabu, Jamila Mohamed, Rashid Abdalla (Swahili desk) and Victoria Rubadiri left NTV to join Citizen TV. Larry Madowo left to join BBC.

Meanwhile KTN lost Mashirima Kapombe and Yvonne Okwara who also join Citizen TV. Betty Kyallo quit KTN and it’s not clear whether she will join K24 as reported earlier.

KTN and NTV decided to hire new talent to replace the seasoned journalists who left. 6 new faces hired by these two TV stations are taking over Kenyan television:

Akisa Wandera

She joined KTN from Ebru TV and she is definitely the next big thing on KTN now that Betty and Yvonne are no longer there. Akisa has been making waves on social media, a likely indication that she is building her own legion of fans just like other big names in media.

Jesse Rogers

He joined KTN from KUTV – station owned by Kenyatta University. Jesse was inspired by celebrated journalist Catherine Kasavuli to pursue a career in media. And he is now the reason why some ladies can’t afford not to watch Friday Briefing.

Fridah Mwaka

She was one of the contestants during the 2015 edition of KTN’s reality show ‘The Presenter’. Fridah joined KTN Swahili desk to replace Mashirima Kapombe. Before joining KTN, Fridah was hosting a radio show.

Maalika Kazia

She is one of the prettiest news anchors on Kenyan television. Maalika Kazia joined KTN news desk from Radio Africa Group’s East FM where she was a presenter.

Zainab Ismail

She was also a contestant on season 2 of KTN reality show ‘The Presenter’. Zainab worked at Ebru TV before she joined NTV English desk. She was paired with Trevor Ombija and they are one of the most captivating duo on Kenyan television.

Olive Burrows

She is the only Kenyan journalist who interviewed retired President Barack Obama when he came to Kenya in July 2015 as sitting US President. Olive joined NTV from Capital FM and she was paired with Dennis Okari, the two have onscreen chemistry just like Larry Madowo and Victoria Rubadiri. Okari should marry this girl already!

Betty Kyallo come see this! Debutant duo Dennis Okari and Olive Burrows prove they have chemistry on screen

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Martin Oduor

Dennis Okari and Olive Burrows anchored news together for the first time on Monday night July 16th and Kenyans are loving it.

Okari and Olive’s chemistry on screen can only be compared to Larry Madowo and Victoria Rubadiri who used to captivate the audience whenever they anchored news together.

Olive and Okari were paired up after the restructuring that followed the exit of some journalists from the Kimathi street-based media house.

Job well done

Okari was previously focused on doing investigative stories for NTV, while Olive joined the station from Capital FM. The duo did a wonderful job last night and Kenyans on social media commended them.

Some people even suggested that the two should hook up, just like they pressured Madowo and Rubadiri to date.

“Okari marry this madam..you guys have a chemistry,” a certain Julius Oginga wrote on social media.

NTV hires the only Kenyan journalist who interviewed Barack Obama while he was still US President

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by Martin Oduor

NTV lost top journalists who left the station in mass exodus. TV anchors like Larry Madowo, Victoria Rubadiri and Jamila Mohammed left the Kimathi street-based media house to join BBC and Royal Media.

Linus Kaikai also resigned from NTV where he served as the managing editor to join Royal Media as the Director of Strategy and Innovation.

Nation Media Group has since embarked on a mission to recruit the most experienced journalists in Kenya to replace the ones who quit.

Capital FM raided

NTV’s first pick is Olive Burrows – a highly experienced journalists who used to work for Capital FM. Olivia is the only Kenyan journalist who interviewed retired President Barack Obama when he visited Kenya in July 2015.

Olive Burrows will be anchoring news on NTV, she is also expected to have her own show on NTV just like what Madowo and Rubadiri had.