Jeff Koinange Biography
Jeff Koinange is a Kenyan journalist, broadcaster, and television news anchor who was born and brought up in Nairobi, Kenya. Currently, he works at Citizen TV in Kenya as a host of Jeff Koinange Live, a talk show since February 2017. He also worked as a radio host, alongside Nick Odhiambo, on the breakfast show at HOT 96, the English-language station owned by Royal Media Services. Jeff is also known as a judge representing Kenya at the new East Africa’s Got Talent, which premiered on 4 August 2019.
Koinange worked for CNN and CNN International as an African journalist, from 2001 to 2007, and at TV station K24 as chief reporter, from 2007 to December 2012. Prior to joining KTN, he worked with KTN on his branded news program, Jeff Koinange Live. Jeff had before served as the chief anchor Africa for Arise Television Ltd based in Johannesburg. He entered East Africa’s Got Talent as a judge alongside Vanessa Mdee, Makeda Mahadeo, and Gaetano Kagwa.
10 Quick Facts About Jeff Koinange
- Name: Jeff Koinange
- Age: 58 years old
- Birthday: 7 January
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Height: Average
- Nationality: Kenyan
- Occupation: Journalist, Broadcaster, and Television News Anchor
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: Ksh.2 Million
- Net Worth: Ksh.50 Million
Jeff Koinange Age
Koinange is 58 years old. He was born on 7 January 1966, in Nairobi, Kenya. He celebrates his birthday on 7 January every year and his birth sign is Capricorn.
Jeff Koinange Height
Koinange stands at an average height. 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 attended Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York from 1987 to 1989 where he graduated with an associate degree. He then enrolled New York University from 1989 to 1991, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism.
Jeff Koinange Family
Jeff Mwaura Koinage was born to his father, Federick Mbiyu Koinage, and his mother, Hilda Wambui Ngoima. His father, Fedrick was among the sons of the Gikuyu tribe’s considerably prominent chief, Senior Chief Koinage wa Mbiyu. Fedrick’s mother was the third wife of the chief who wedded six wives. Alternately, Jeff’s mother, Hilda was the first child of a rich and advanced farmer, Mwaura wa-Ngoima from Githiga village in Githunguri.
Jeff’s father fell in love with his mother’s sister prior to the declaration of a state of emergency in Kenya. Viewing their incredible love for each other, Jeff’s father went on to pay the traditional dowry to the Ngoima family but was captured before he could complete the whole marriage rites. While in prison, Hilda’s sister who was to be his wife could no longer wait so she ran away with another gentleman.
Hilda who understood everything that was transpiring began writing to Frederick while he was still in police custody. At first, Fedrick felt awkward about the letters from Hilda but he wrote back to her anyway. In one of his letters, he described what life in the Manyani had been like. Their casual letter exchange later grew into love and she started visiting Federick at the prison. She later got pregnant and gave birth to Jeff Koinage.
Unluckily, Federick passed away precisely two months after Jeff’s birth from a brain haemorrhage. The 28-year-old woman then raised Jeff and his three siblings Hilda Wanjiru, Phyllis Wangui, and Freddie Koinage as a single mother. Hilda worked as a headmistress and strict disciplinarian in Kiambaa village close to Banana Hill in Kiambu County. She was training as a teacher when she and Frederick began their affair.
Furthermore, being the grandson of the famous son of Senior Gikuyu Chief Koinage, Jeff is also a nephew to Peter Mbiyu Koinange who was exiled in Britain after the State of Emergency was declared. Remember that Peter Mbiyu Koinange was the first Kenyan to obtain a Master’s degree. He acquired a Master’s degree at Columbia University in New York.
Jeff Koinange Parents
Jeff Koinage is the son of Federick Mbiyu Koinage, one of 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 Koinange Father
Jeff was born to his father, Fredrick Mbiyu Koinange. His father is the son of the Gikuyu tribe’s most famous chief, Senior Chief Koinage wa Mbiyu.
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, like 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 Wife
Jeff Koinange is married to his lovely wife Shaila Koinange, a Kenyan national of Asian origin who has maintained a low profile away from public media. Koinange married Shaila Koinange in a private wedding ceremony attended by close friends and family. Koinange and his wife are blessed with one child, a son called Jamal Mbiyu Koinange who was born belatedly in their marriage.
Initially, Jeff was expected to marry Shaila Koinange on Aug 8, 1998, and hed for their honeymoon in South Africa. However, he was forced to cancel his wedding after terrorists bombed the US Embassy in Nairobi on August 7.
Nevertheless, before Shaila, Jeff Koinange 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 divorced after he caught her in bed with another man. However, Jeff Koinange still holds Sonya dear, since he says she will forever remain special to him for the rest of his life.
Jeff Koinange First Wife
Jeff married his first wife Sonia in 1988. She was a workmate flight instructor. The couple reportedly had a good marriage relationship until 1994, when they divorced. Flight passengers and his wife Sonia motivated Jeff to try his luck in journalism. Some sources allege that Jeff left his first wife based on infidelity.
Jeff Koinange Son
Jeff Koinange and his wife Shaila Koinange have one child together, a son named Jamal Mbiyu Koinange. Jamal Mbiyu was born in 2007.
Jeff Koinange Salary
Jeff receives an estimated monthly salary of Ksh.2 million. Jeff only works one day a week, on Wednesdays, when he anchors the news, followed by his Koinange Live interview. This makes Jeff arguably the highest-paid practicing journalist in Kenya.
Jeff Koinange Net Worth
Koinange has an estimated net worth of Ksh.50 million shillings as of 2024. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a journalist, broadcaster, and television news anchor. Through his various sources of income, Koinange has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Jeff Koinange Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Jeff.
Jeff Koinange Wiki
- Full Names: Jeff Mwaura Koinange
- Popular As: Jeff Koinange
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Journalist, Broadcaster, and Television News Anchor
- Nationality: Kenyan
- Race / Ethnicity: Kikuyu Tribe
- Religion: Christian
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Jeff Koinange Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 58 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Date of Birth: January 7, 1966
- Place of Birth: Nairobi, Kenya
- Birthday: 7 January
Jeff Koinange Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: Average
- Weight: Moderate
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
Jeff Koinange Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Frederick Mbiyu Koinange
- Mother: Hilda Wambui Ngoima
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Freddie Koinange, Hilda Wanjiru, Phylis Wangui
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife/ Spouse: Married to Shaila Koinange
- Girlfriend/ Partner: Ex-girlfriend Yoko Seki
- Children: Son (Jamal Mbiyu Koinange) Daughter (None)
Jeff Koinange Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: Ksh.50 Million
- Salary: Ksh.2 Million
- Source of Income: Journalist, Broadcaster, and Television News Anchor
Jeff Koinange Live
Koinange is presently the host of the famous and contentious Talk Show, Jeff Koinange LIVE #JKL broadcast on Kenya’s most-watched Television Channel, CITIZEN TV. Mainly known as a journalist, broadcaster, and television news anchor. Jeff is also a great negotiator, a skilled motivator, an excellent showman, and a talented presenter. Most people try to fit Jeff into mildew but infrequently succeed in capturing his essence.
Jeff Koinange KTN
Jeff Koinange has also worked with 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
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:
Jeff Koinange 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 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 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 to 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 to a great extent Kenyan viewpoint. Jeff outlines unmistakably how one-sided reportage can splinter any 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 Cars
Jeff Koinange owns several cars, including a Mercedes-Benz G-wagon costing over 10 million shillings. Jeff’s G-wagon car is a left-hand drive, which is against the road laws of Kenya.
In his Twitter account, lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi said, ‘Jeff’s car is a left-hand drive…I thought we have a legal prohibition against such imports…or is Jeff’s a special case?’ he received many responses from Kenyans.
Besides, his’ car number plate is unknown. This has raised questions among Kenyans after seeing him ride the car without a number plate several times.
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 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 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 to a Kenyan civilian by the President of Kenya for contribution to journalism in Kenya, Africa, and internationally.
Hobbies and Interests
- Jeff enjoys spending his free time engaging in activities that allow him to express her/his creativity and connect with others. He is passionate about using his hobbies to make a positive impact on the world.
- Jeff enjoys spending his free time learning new things and exploring new experiences. He is passionate about using his hobbies to expand his horizons and grow as a person.
- Jeff enjoys spending his free time relaxing and de-stressing. He is passionate about using his hobbies to take care of himself and maintain his mental and physical health.
Conclusion
Jeff is a visionary. He sees the world differently and has the courage to make a difference. He is an inspiration to us all to think outside the box and to never stop striving for a better future.
Jeff Koinange Contacts
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