Fascinating facts about veteran TV anchor Victoria Rubadiri

GEOFFREY MBUTHIA ENTERTAINMENT SUB-EDITOR

29 April 2024

• The journalist is moving to CNN after a long and gloried stint at Citizen TV.

This weekend, Victoria Rubadiri has been making big money moves after it was revealed that the journalist was moving from Citizen TV to CNN after a 6-year stint at the RMS-owned station.

But who is she?

Rubadiri was born in January 1987, into a culturally diverse family. Her mother is of Kalenjin and Maasai descent, while her father hails from Malawi.

Her grandparents represent various backgrounds, including Kikuyu, Maasai, Seychellois, Kalenjin, and Scottish.

Victoria's unique name was given to her by her grandfather, who chose it after gaining freedom from slavery in Oman. She has a sister named Mabel Rubadiri.

Victoria's educational journey began in Nairobi Pentecostal Academy and Rusinga School before her family moved to New Jersey, United States, when she was 10.

In the U.S., she attended Atlantic City High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2009.

Even before graduating, Victoria began her media career, interning at WMGM – NBC 40 TV in 2007. She later worked as a personal assistant at the Angela Crockett Company in Brooklyn, New York, in 2008.

Returning to Kenya in 2010, Victoria pursued journalism, landing roles at Capital FM and eventually transitioning to NTV in 2013, where she served as a news anchor, reporter, and script editor.

At NTV, Victoria co-anchored the Prime Time Weekend Edition and gained recognition for her talent and dedication.

In May 2018, she joined Citizen TV as a senior news anchor, co-anchoring Sunday Live and leading the Citizen Weekend primetime news bulletin on Saturdays.

In 2020, Victoria won the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award, which allowed her a three-month leave from Citizen TV for professional development at BBC London.

In April 2024, Victoria bid farewell to Citizen TV as she reportedly moved to CNN, marking a new chapter in her career.

While renowned for her journalistic prowess, Victoria maintains a private personal life. She became a mother at 18 and has a daughter named Neema, who joined the university in August 2023.

Victoria has kept her private life discreet, neither confirming nor denying rumours about her romantic relationships.

During an interview, she expressed her desire for a partner who shares her ambitious vision and goals, emphasizing unity in achieving greater objectives together, including a happy and healthy family setup.