Yvonne Okwara is one of Kenya’s most well-known media figures. She is not just skilled at her job, but she has also avoided scandal during her long career.
When she’s not on TV, you’ll rarely hear her name since she believes in keeping her personal life private.
This isn’t to say she’s a complete mystery; she has revealed details about her life on various occasions.
The fact that various Kenyan media firms are vying for her services speaks something about her ability as a news anchor. Okwara has become a role model as well as a source of information for Kenyans.
The ambitious and self-driven news anchor, however, is more than meets the eye.
While Yvonne Okwara’s weight loss demonstrates her commitment to achieving her goals, her life has not been without its difficulties.
So, who is Yvonne Okwara?
Yvonne Okwara’s Profile
- Name: Yvonne Buliba Okwara Matole
- Date of birth: March 16, 1983
- Place of birth: Western Kenya
- Age: 37 years old
- Star sign: Pisces
- Husband: Andrew Matole Konde
- Occupation: News anchor
Yvonne was born on March 16, 1983, as Yvonne Buliba Okwara Matole. There is a lot to tell about her background. To begin with, she is the last born in a family of three. Her mother is Esther Ambale Sande.
She had an older brother by the name Albert Okwara who died in 2018 aged 50. Albert was suffering from German measles, a disease that results in mental retardation, blindness and deafness.
Yvonne Okwara’s Education/Career
Buliba is an alumnus of All Saints Cathedral Primary School, Kianda High School and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). She studied microbiology but ended up having a career in journalism.
Her career in journalism started with her hosting, KBC’s children variety show, and as she became more experienced, new opportunities came her way. In 2008, she joined QFM as a radio talk show producer and also had the opportunity to do a voice over for NTV’s business show Money Matters.
In 2012, Buliba joined KTN on a five-year contract assignment. The contract ended in 2018, and she decided not to extend it opting to join Citizen TV as a prime-time news anchor. When she is not working as a news anchor, Buliba does voice-overs for various TV shows.
Yvonne Okwara’s tribe
Yvonne has been the victim of tribal stereotypes. Many people believe that she is a Luo, which is not the case. Others have speculated that she is a Kisii.
It happens that she spoke in Luhya to calm down a caller on live TV and that gave away her tribe. Where does Yvonne Okwara come from? She is from western Kenya.
Yvonne Okwara’s Husband
Yvonne Okwara tied the knot in 2014. Her husband, Andrew Matole Konde was 47 at the time, and Buliba was 31. There has always been debate on the 16-year age gap between the two, but Yvonne has made it clear she is not bothered by it.
Andrew is a veterinary surgeon, and the two met for the first time when Buliba’s pet was sick. Their wedding was an invite-only event. It happened on December 6, 2014, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Nairobi.
She has reiterated that the two are happy together and that Andrew is her best friend. Does Yvonne Okwara have a child? No. She has always said it is okay not to have or even want to have children.
With the kind of success Yvonne has had in her career, comes good money. Money is not just meant to sit in the bank but can be used to acquire things such as cars, houses and other properties. Yvonne has in the past showcased videos of the beautiful landscape and exterior of her home.
By just a glance, one can tell that the house must be worth millions. She called it ‘their’ retirement home in upcountry, and with the beautiful garden, it will be a good place to spend her later years.
How she manages to be tough with a touch of tenderness as evidenced from the many talks she has moderated is something many people have never understood.
Call her Yvonne Okwara, and she will happily respond. She is the epitome of competence and professionalism in journalism. She has never allowed her life as a public figure affect her private one. Her life is hers, which is why she never worries about what people think of her choices, such as marrying a man 16 years older than her. She is happy, and that is her ultimate goal in life.
