Who is Jeff Koinange? | Jeff Koinange Biography and Wiki
Jeff Koinange (born Jeff Mwaura Koinange) is a Kenyan great negotiator, a skilled motivator, an excellent showman and a gifted presenter and Talk Show host of Jeff Koinange LIVE #JKL on Citizen TV since February 2017.
He also hosts the morning breakfast show, at HOT 96, the English station owned by Royal Media Services, alongside his co-host Professor Hamo. Jeff is the First Black African journalist to be prominently featured on international network television and on CNN.
Jeff Koinange Age and Birthday
Koinange is 54 years old as of 2019, he was born on January 7th, 1966, in Nairobi, Kenya. He celebrates his birthday on January 7th every year. Jeff will be 53 years old on January 7th, 2021.
Jeff Koinange Height and Weight
Koinange appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.
Jeff Koinange Education
Koinange is a proud graduate of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY, where he studied from 1987 to 1989 and moved out with an associate degree. He partook his journalism classes at New York University from 1989- 1991, where he upon completion, graduated to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism.
Jeff Koinange Family
Jeff Koinange Parents | Jeff Koinange Father | Fredrick Mbiyu Koinange
Jeff Mwaura Koinage is the son of Federick Mbiyu Koinage, who was among the sons of the Gikuyu tribe’s most famous chief, Senior Chief Koinage wa Mbiyu and his mother was the third wife of the chief who married six wives.
Jeff’s mother Hilda Wambui Ngoima was the first child of a rich and progressive farmer, Mwaura wa-Ngoima from Githiga village in Githunguri. Federick first loved Hilda’s sister before the affirmation of the highly sensitive situation in Kenya.
Considering their extraordinary love for one another, Jeff’s dad proceeded to pay the standard share to the Ngoima family however was arrested before he could complete the whole marriage ceremonies. While in prison, Hilda’s sister who was to be his significant other could never again stand by so she fled with another man.
Hilda who knew it all that was going on began keeping in touch with Frederick while he was still in police detainment. From the outset, Fedrick felt clumsy about the letters from Hilda however he composed back to her in any case. In one of his letters, he described what life in the Manyani had been similar to.
Their easygoing letter trade later developed into love and she started visiting Federick at the prison. She later got pregnant and brought forth Jeff Koinage. Sadly, Federick passed on precisely two months after Jeff’s introduction to the world from a cerebrum drain.
The 28-year-elderly person at that point raised Jeff and his three kin Hilda Wanjiru, Phyllis Wangui, and Freddie Koinage without any assistance. Hilda filled in as a headmistress and exacting slave driver in Kiambaa town near Banana Hill in Kiambu County. She was training as a teacher when she and Frederick began their issue.
Notwithstanding being the grandson of the popular Senior Gikuyu Chief Koinage, Jeff is additionally a nephew to Peter Mbiyu Koinange who was ousted in Britain after the State of Emergency was pronounced. Diminish Mbiyu Koinange was the main Kenyan to get a Master’s qualification. He procured a Master’s qualification at Columbia University in New York.
Jeff Koinange PhotoJeff Koinange Wife
Speaking of his personal life, Jeff is a married man. He married his longtime girlfriend, Shaila Koinange, a Kenyan of Asian origin and who Jeff likes keeping a low profile off from the Public. However, before Shaila, Jeff was previously engaged to Sonya, a Panamanian lady, in 1988, and was their flight instructor.
After a few years of marriage, in 1994, Jeff and Sonya separated after he caught her in bed with another man. Jeff however still holds Sonya dear since he says she will forever remain special to him for the rest of his life. He also once described their affair as non-stop sun, sea and sex.
Jeff Koinange Children
Koinange and Shaila have been blessed with a young son Jamal Mbiyu Koinange, who was born late in their marriage.
Jeff Koinange And Uhuru Kenyatta Brothers
Kiambu’s pre-independent era Senior Chief Koinange Wa Mbiyu (died in 1981), who had six wives and 34 children who are the backbone of a formidable lineage that is the Koinanges, as the Standard documents, was Jomo Kenyatta’s brother-in-law and confidant and the first Kenyan to attain university education after a Scottish teacher tipped his father about America having cheap, but good preparatory schools for miros.
His brother Frederick Mbiyu Koinange, Jeff’s father, was the first African Kenyan to open a car dealership in 1948, and our first indigenous petrol station, the Koinange Petrol Station in Kariokor in 1966, the year he died. So we could probably conclude to say that Jeff Koinange and his excellency the President of Kenya, Uhuru Mwigai Kenyatta, are far cousins.
Jeff Koinange Facts and Body Measurements
Here are some interesting facts you don’t want to miss about Jeff Koinange.
- Full Name: Jeff Mwaura Koinange
- Age/ How Old?: 54
- Date of Birth: 7 January 1966
- Place of Birth: Nairobi
- Education: Kingsborough Community College, New York University
- Birthday: January 7th
- Nationality: Kenyan
- Father’s Name: Frederick Mbiyu Koinange
- Mother’s Name: Hilda Wambui Ngoima
- Siblings: 3
- Married?: Yes
- Children/ Kids: 1
- Height/ How tall?: Not Available
- Weight: Not Available
- Profession: Journalist
- Net worth: Ksh2 million
Jeff Koinange Career
Speaking of his career, Jeff previously served as 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 he portrayed as a judge alongside Gaetano Kagwa, Makeda and Vanessa Mdee, at the new East Africa’s Got Talent That first premiered on 04th Aug 2019.
At CNN, Jeff covered stories for Africa were the crisis in Darfur, the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone and the famine in Niger. This earned him an Emmy Award. In early 2007, Koinange was reprimanded by the government of Nigeria for his coverage of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
In his report, Koinange went with masked MEND guerillas to a camp where they were holding various Filipino prisoners. The Nigerian government stated that the report was “staged”, a charge that CNN denies.
Koinange has also secured news outside of Africa, remembering broad reporting for the consequence of the Hurricane Katrina emergency just as the Iraq War.
However, on May 29, 2007, CNN mentioned Jeff and was said to no longer continue working for the network and seven months later Koinange was hired as a news anchor by a new Kenyan TV station, K24, which started doing test runs in Nairobi in December 2007.
Jeff Koinange KTN
Jeff has also worked with the Standard Group Media’s owned channel, KTN, which was first formed in 1992. KTN was then Kenya’s first independent TV channel and Jeff was one of his first anchors when he joined the station in 1995 as a part-time news anchor (he was already working as a Reuters correspondent based in Nairobi at this time).
His work at KTN received mixed reviews, where some people were put off by his accent while others accepted him. In 1998, Jeff was appointed Reuters West Africa Bureau Chief and previously served as the Chief Anchor, Africa for Arise Television Ltd located in Johannesburg.
Jeff Koinange Radio Show | Jeff Koinange Jalang’o
In 2017, Royal Media fans were informed that comedian Felix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o was set to make his debut on Citizen TV sister station, Hot 96 in the first week of May that year.
According to reports, Jalang’o was to host the daily breakfast show, dubbed ‘Hot 96 Breakfast’, alongside Jeff Koinange, where Jalang’o was expected to maintain his comical approach when tackling listener’s problems, whereas Koinange would have a somewhat sober perspective.
However, the following year, 2018, Jalang’o officially announced his exit from Hot 96 FM Breakfast Show, after 1 year and 4 months of service to the station and before he left he wrote to post on Instagram some words of gratitude to his co-host Jeff Koinange and all Citizen staffs:
He left Hot 96 for Milele FM where he will be co-hosting the breakfast show with former Radio Maisha host, Alex Mwakideu.
In place of him was Churchill Show stand up comedian Herman Kago, famously known as Professor Hamo who was tipped for the job by many listeners and he deservedly landed the prime radio job. The shocking thing is that he beat his fellow comedians Sleepy David and Oga Obinna, who co-hosted the show with Jeff on a trial basis following Jalang’o’s shock exit.
According to listeners, Hamo was the right man for the job because of their undeniable chemistry and Hamo’s humourous attitude which left Koinange in stitches. The duo uses the Hashtag #JeffAndHamoOnHot.
Jeff Koinange Exclusives
Jeff’s reportage has impacted major events from all across the African continent and led to global action. His reflection of life on the continent to CNN’s global audience is unprecedented. Although Jeff was CNN’s Africa correspondent, his journalistic reach was as influential beyond the continent.
- In 2005, he was part of CNN’s Peabody Award-winning team that covered the devastation wreaked on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.
- At the height of a violent civil war that led to the overthrow of Charles Taylor in Liberia- he secured an exclusive interview with the outgoing President.
- The inauguration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia as Africa’s first female elected president.
- The arrest and deportation of Charles Taylor.
- The State of Sudan and the crisis in Darfur with Anderson Cooper
- Uganda on the refugees of Sudan’s Lords Resistance Army.
- Nigeria extensively, its politics, it’s economy and its people and traveled extensively to numerous locations.
- Malian drought
- Bukavu and the victims of rape.
- Mozambican floods-baby Rosita born in a tree.
- Niger delta and the Filipino hostages
- Nigerian Tycoon’s and Presidents.
- Hurricane Katrina.
- Reports from Baghdad on the post-war insurgency, reconstruction and the historic elections in Iraq in 2005.
Jeff Koinange Significant Events
- USA President, George W Bush’s Africa tour, the first by a sitting US Republican President;
- The ten-year anniversary of the Genocide that killed up to a million people in a hundred days of savage slaughter in Rwanda;
- Africa’s preparation and anticipation of the FIFA World Cup’s debut on the African continent in 2010;
- Elections and politics in Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone and Somalia;
- Troop deployments to counter the War on Terror in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa;
- The attempted coup and evacuation of French and American civilians in the Ivory Coast as well as the ensuing peace talks;
- The World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa.
Jeff Koinange Through My African Eyes
Through My African Eyes is a concise narrative covering a portion of the significant players in 20th-century African politics. The book is rich with insights into the individual and intellectual underpinnings of numerous verifiable occasions in Africa.
The book portrayed the narratives of some really interesting Africans from warlords, warriors, unfortunate casualties, and government officials loan insight into Jeff’s praised journalistic style. Through his eyes, we are made to comprehend the job of columnists as binders of our social texture.
Through My African Eyes is exceptionally informative and very amusing, utilizing an advanced snappy exact narrative style. He can depict complex worldwide geopolitical issues with the incisive investigation. The book surf’s one through the involvement in speed and verifiable exactness.
We see the visual the words bestow, instead of being stuck in composition. The best part is being ready to walk the excursion informed by a to a great extent Kenyan viewpoint. Jeff outlines unmistakably how one-sided reportage can splinter any general public and advance its disintegration by pandering to individuals’ most reduced instincts.
The narrative draws out lesser-known parts of his life. Jeff’s unblinking examination of his granddad’s life is truly illuminating and fills in as a symbolic extension between the beginning and the end of colonialism.
Jeff Koinange is the primary African ever to win a Television Emmy and a George Foster Peabody. He justified the Vernon Jarrett Award just as the esteemed! ‘Prix Bayeux’ for reportage that arrested worldwide emergencies.
Jeff Koinange Scandal
Niger Delta Scandal
In 2007, while he was working at CNN, Jeff Koinange reported on the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). During the report, he was in the presence of MEND guerrillas who had captured some Filipinos. This report raised a lot of controversies and there was outcry especially from the Nigerian government, which claimed that it was staged. CNN and Jeff Koinange denied the claim that they staged the report.
” In hindsight, it was the biggest scoop of my career and the scariest as well. The response was overwhelming, both positive and negative.
The Nigerian government accused us of staging the whole thing because they were caught off guard. They claimed we even staged the 24 Filipinos who we found captured and detained there.
I went to Niger after getting approval from CNN’s head office, and even after we camped in Abuja for 5 days waiting for an official comment from Nigeria government. Nothing. I was let go for showing the footage.
Why wouldn’t CNN back you up with the kind of background they had?
Look, there are a lot financial gains from dealing with Nigeria. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who was let go at that time for very frivolous reasons while defending their principles. Google Mike O’brien, Peter Dykstra, David Shuster, Jonathan Kline and Amber Lyon.
Jeff Koinange Sex Scandal
2007 was a controversial year for Jeff Koinange. Shortly after the Niger Delta report, Marianne Briner, a Swiss national claimed that she had an affair with him
Yes. It was too coincidental, coming on the heels of the Niger Delta story. This woman contacted me stating that she wanted to write a book and expose some ‘big’ politicians and she wanted me to introduce her to folks like Oprah Winfrey. I couldn’t because I didn’t have the contacts.
She then vamped on the Niger saga and attempted to spin the situation to gain notoriety. Lucky for me, my wife had the back-up phone logs. The whole incident was unfortunate and caused me unnecessary grief.
MCK Recommends Disciplinary Action Against Jeff Koinange For Unethical Behaviour On Live Interview With Francis Atwoli
Kahawa Tungu | August 16, 2018
Media Council of Kenya (MCK) CEO, David Omwoyo has written to Royal Media Services flagging Jeff Koinange’s behavior in last night’s interview with veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli on Citizen TV.
In the letter, MCK cites various instances of unprofessionalism by the host; Mr. Koinange, including discussing personal and sexual matters with Atwoli, against clause 13 of the Journalist’s code of conduct which states inquiries into an individual’s private life are not acceptable
“(Koinange) breached clause 13 of the Code of conduct for the practice of journalism on the protection of privacy. The article states that inquiries into an individual’s private life are not acceptable and things concerning a person’s home, family, religion, sexuality, personal life and individual’s private affairs shall not be allowed,” read the letter from MCK.
At the preliminary of the interview, Mr. Atwoli confirmed his marriage to KTN’s Swahili news presenter Mary Kilobi.
This prompted Koinange to ask questions such as bado Kazi unafanya, katiba Bado unasoma” and “Kazi unaweza” loosely translated to “are you still active/ strong in bed”. In return, Atwoli warned the veteran journalist that it was still a watershed period and children were watching, including his.
“The host was persistent in discussing explicit adult related content on TV outside the watershed hour contravening clause 10 on obscenity, taste, and tone in reporting of the code of conduct for the practice of journalism in Kenya,” added MCK.
The questions also sparked Kenyans’ fury on social media who said that Koinange was asking inappropriate questions.
This is not the first time that Koinange is courting headlines for unethical behavior on live TV in a desperate attempt to make the show more popular.
In 2016, he left KTN after appearing to laugh off obscene comments made by former gubernatorial aspirant Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant, Miguna Miguna in reference to current Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
In 2015, a Nairobi court also ordered for the arrest of Koinange and city businessman Tony Gachoka for contempt.
The two had ignored the court’s orders barring them from discussing businessman Jimi Wanjigi, Mr. Sani Mbui Wanjigi and Kwacha Group of Companies Limited in then KTN’s JKL show.
The plaintiffs had obtained orders barring Mr. Koinange, KTN and the Standard Media Group from broadcasting or publishing alleged defamatory statements concerning them and the company.
Citizen Tv Anchors and Reporters
His fellow news team at Citizen Tv include:
- Waihiga Mwaura
- Yvone Okwara Matole
- Victoria Rubadiri
- Trevor Ombija
- Lilian Muli
- Hussein Mohammed (resigned)
- Swaleh Mdoe
- Mwanahamisi Hamadi
- Nimrod Taabu
- Mashirima Kapombe
- Jamila Mohamed
- Lulu Hassan
- Rashid Abdalla
- Asha Mwilu (investigative reporter)
Jeff Koinange Salary
When Jeff Koinange was first called to fill into the Royal Media-owned station, Citizen TV, his arrival brought pressure amongst all the station’s presenters, even causing some of its best presenters to fall out. Konainge’s salary, figured at Ksh2 million monthly – has caused disquiet among senior TV presenters who feel short-changed and ‘mocked’ by the media house.
Actually, what has miffed presenters at Citizen TV is the fact for Ksh2 million, Jeff only works one day a week, on Wednesdays, when he anchors news, followed by his Jeff Koinange Live interview. This makes Jeff arguably the highest-paid practicing journalist in Kenya.
Jeff Koinange Net Worth | Jeff Koinange Wealth
The award-winning journalist, Jeff Koinange, has an estimated net worth of over Kes 50 million which he has earned through his successful career as a journalist.
Jeff Koinange Mercedes Benz
Ranked as the richest and the highest-paid journalist in Kenya, Jeff drives a Mercedes Benz G-Class on the Kenyan roads, a car that he had to part with Ksh 12 million to get his hands on the left-hand machine.
Jeff Koinange Involved In An Accident
In 2019, an incident was reported of a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon involved in a nasty accident in the Northern Bypass. Kenyans speculated that it was Citizen TV’s Journalist Jeff Koinange who was involved in the accident because the machine looked exactly like his.
Jeff, on the other hand, denied claims of him being involved in the accident as he was together with Rashid Abdalla and Professor Hamo on their way to Baringo to give an early Christmas to the Baringo Dancing trio who went viral on social media.
It was then later confirmed that the vehicle belonged to the famous radio and TV presenter Shaffie Weru and that no injuries were spotted and reported but the damage on the car was clearly evident.
Jeff Koinange Awards and Achievements
- 2005: Jeff was awarded a Television Emmy for coverage of the devastating famine in the West African nation of Niger. The Primetime Emmy Award is a symbol of peer recognition from over 16,000 Television Academy members. An Emmy Award recognizes excellence in the television industry. Academy Award (for the film), Tony Award (for theatre), Grammy Award (for music).
- 2006: The remarkable journalist was awarded The George Foster PEABODY Award for his coverage of the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. The George Foster Peabody Award (Peabody Award) recognizes distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. The Peabody Awards judging process is unusually rigorous. Judges seek “Excellence On Its Own Terms.”
- 2006: Jeff was awarded the Vernon Jarrett Bronze Medal for ‘Best Feature’ on ‘Mass Rapes in the Congo’. The Vernon Jarrett Institute awards the medal, for journalistic excellence, annually to exceptional journalists. It honors the outstanding coverage of people of African descent and the issues that impact their lives.
- 2006: The best selling author was awarded The Prix Bayeaux for War Correspondents for humanely reporting on the civil war in the Congo.
- Since 1994: the city of Bayeux, associated with Calvados General Council organizes this award to pay tribute to journalists who are working in hazardous conditions to allow access to free information.
- 2006: Finalist of the Diageo Awards for Business Reporting in Africa.
- 2007: Finalist of the Diageo Awards for Business Reporting in Africa.
- 2007: He was awarded the Vernon Jarrett Bronze Medal for ‘Famine in Malawi’.
- 2008: Due to his journalistic prowess, Jeff was awarded the Moran of the Order of The Burning Spear (MBS).The MBS Award is the highest honor accorded a Kenyan civilian by the President of Kenya for contribution to journalism in Kenya, Africa and internationally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeff Koinange
Who is Jeff Koinange?
Koinange is a well-known news reporter/anchor for Citizen TV Kenya hosting ‘Jeff Koinange Live’, a talk show aired on Citizen TV Kenya, part of Royal Media Services. Prior to joining Citizen TV Kenya, he filled in as a part-time anchor for KTN.
How old is Jeff?
Koinange is a Kenyan national born on 7th January 1966, in Nairobi.
How tall is Jeff?
Koinange has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.
Is Jeff married?
Yes, he is married to Shaila Koinange and together they have one son. The couple resides in Nairobi together with their son
How much is Jeff worth?
Koinange has an approximate net worth of Ksh50 million. This amount has been accrued from his career as a journalist
How much does Jeff make?
When Jeff Koinange was first called to fill into the Royal Media-owned station, Citizen TV, his arrival brought pressure amongst all the station’s presenters, even causing some of its best presenters to fall out. Konainge’s salary, figured at Ksh2 million monthly – has caused disquiet among senior TV presenters who feel short-changed and ‘mocked’ by the media house.
Actually, what has miffed presenters at Citizen TV is the fact for Ksh2 million, Jeff only works one day a week, on Wednesdays, when he anchors news, followed by his Jeff Koinange Live interview. This makes Jeff arguably the highest-paid practicing journalist in Kenya.
Where does Jeff live?
He is a resident of Nairobi, Kenya, we shall upload pictures of her house as soon as we have them.
Is Jeff dead or alive?
He is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.
Where is Jeff Now?
Koinange is pursuing his career in journalism. He is working as a news reporter at Citizen TV Kenya since February 2017.