Jeff Koinange
Encyclopedia
Jeff Koinange is a Kenyan journalist
and chief reporter at TV station K24. He previously served as the Africa
correspondent for CNN
and CNN International
from 2001 to 2007.
and worked with Kenya's first independent television channel KTN Kenya Television Network
. He attended Kingsborough Community College
in Brooklyn, NY between 1987–1989 and graduated with an Associate's degree. He also received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in broadcast journalism from New York University
. Prior to joining CNN, Koinange worked for Reuters
Television from 1995 to 2001, covering Africa and serving as their chief producer from 1999 to 2001. He also worked as a producer at NBC News
in 1994 and also worked for ABC News
earlier in his career from 1991 to 1992. Seven months after leaving CNN
, Koinange was hired as a news anchor by a new Kenyan TV station, K24, which started doing test runs in Nairobi
in December 2007. He is the host of Capital Talk Show.
, the civil wars in Liberia
and Sierra Leone
and the famine in Niger
, for which Koinange won an Emmy award.
Most recently, in early 2007, Koinange was reprimanded by the government of Nigeria
for his coverage of the Movement for the Emanicipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In his report, Koinange accompanied masked MEND guerillas to a camp where they were holding a number of Filipino hostages. The Nigerian government said that the report was "staged", a charge CNN denies.
Koinange has also covered news outside of Africa, including extensive reporting on the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina
crisis as well as the Iraq War.
On May 29, 2007, CNN announced that Koinange was no longer employed by the network. He had apparently been caught up with a sex scandal that CNN did not want to become associated with.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and chief reporter at TV station K24. He previously served as the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
correspondent for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and CNN International
CNN International
CNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
from 2001 to 2007.
Background
Koinange was born in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and worked with Kenya's first independent television channel KTN Kenya Television Network
Kenya Television Network
Kenya Television Network is the leading television station in Kenya with its headquarters at the I & M Towers in downtown Nairobi. Its headquarters will change later on in the year as it moves in with its parent company's other subsidiaries at the newly-built Standard Group Centre on Mombasa road...
. He attended Kingsborough Community College
Kingsborough Community College
Kingsborough Community College , part of the City University of New York system, is the only community college in Brooklyn, New York. The campus is located at Manhattan Beach, which is at the eastern end of Coney Island. The 71-acre campus overlooks Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay, and the Atlantic...
in Brooklyn, NY between 1987–1989 and graduated with an Associate's degree. He also received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in broadcast journalism from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Prior to joining CNN, Koinange worked for Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
Television from 1995 to 2001, covering Africa and serving as their chief producer from 1999 to 2001. He also worked as a producer at NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
in 1994 and also worked for ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
earlier in his career from 1991 to 1992. Seven months after leaving CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Koinange was hired as a news anchor by a new Kenyan TV station, K24, which started doing test runs in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in December 2007. He is the host of Capital Talk Show.
CNN career
Included among the more significant stories Koinange has covered for CNN in Africa were the crisis in DarfurDarfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
, the civil wars in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and the famine in Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, for which Koinange won an Emmy award.
Most recently, in early 2007, Koinange was reprimanded by the government of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
for his coverage of the Movement for the Emanicipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In his report, Koinange accompanied masked MEND guerillas to a camp where they were holding a number of Filipino hostages. The Nigerian government said that the report was "staged", a charge CNN denies.
Koinange has also covered news outside of Africa, including extensive reporting on the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
crisis as well as the Iraq War.
On May 29, 2007, CNN announced that Koinange was no longer employed by the network. He had apparently been caught up with a sex scandal that CNN did not want to become associated with.