TUJU SETS TO RETURN TO HIS FORMER KTN NEWS DESK

Former Jubilee Party SG and CS Raphael Tuju is set to make an epic return to television as a guest news anchor on KTN’s special “Legends Edition” bulletin, marking the station’s 35th anniversary.

The renowned journalist turned politician will take to the screen once again during the 9 PM prime-time news on October 30 — alongside KTN new anchors, Jesse Rodgers and Ashley Mazuri, rekindling memories of Kenya’s early television era when the country’s media landscape was just beginning to evolve.

Tuju’s broadcasting career is one for the history books. He began at the Voice of Kenya (VOK) — now KBC — before moving to KTN at its launch in 1990 — where he made history as the first-ever news anchor to appear on KTN, a defining moment in Kenya’s television history that cemented his name among the pioneers of independent broadcasting.

“Tuju embodied the news. His presence was unmistakable. He was a broadcaster designed for the screen and remembered long after the bulletin ended. The camera loved him, the poise of a man completely at ease in the public eye. Add to that, a crisp, cultivated accent and a diction so clean it seemed almost sculpted," politician and businessman Steve Mwanga, who witnessed Tuju’s rise, described his prowess on screen.

Tuju initially majored into production, communication consultancy, and finally joined politics. As a television producer and communications strategist, he contributed to shaping Kenya’s media growth before venturing into public service.

Upon joining politics He first served as Mp for Rarieda Constituency from 2002 to 2007 before being appointed Minister for Information and Communications, where he oversaw media liberalization and the growth of Kenya’s telecommunications sector.

Tuju later took over the Tourism and Wildlife docket and briefly served as Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2008, he was appointed by former President Mwai Kibaki as Presidential Advisor on Media and Diversity Management, a role that drew on his communication expertise. Years later, under President Uhuru Kenyatta, Tuju became Cabinet Secretary without Portfolio and also served as the Jubilee Party Secretary-General, cementing his influence in both government and national politics.

The “KTN Legends Edition” is designed to pay tribute to the station’s rich legacy and the trailblazers who shaped Kenyan television. It will also honor celebrated names who once graced its screens — including the Louis Otieno, Maina Kageni, Beatrice Marshall, Swaleh Mdoe and the late Catherine Kasavuli among others.

However, Tuju's return is not expected to be in a permanent capacity , during a recent interview he stated his contentment with his private and business life - not seeking a new job, he further rejected any chances of accepting a job offer from President Ruto.

Tuju’s return promises to be a powerful moment of nostalgia for audiences who grew up watching him, and a reminder of how far Kenya’s broadcast industry has come since that historic KTN debut more than three decades ago.