Former Citizen TV news anchor Yvonne Okwara has ventured into independent journalism after launching her own YouTube channel, marking a new chapter in her media career.
The experienced journalist has introduced the platform with an interview featuring a Kenyan man identified as Vincent, who reportedly survived after travelling to Russia and becoming caught up in the Russia-Ukraine war.
During the interview, Vincent shares his account of how he travelled to Russia under circumstances he says were misleading and the difficulties he encountered after arriving in the country. His experience offers a personal perspective on the growing concerns surrounding Kenyans recruited to participate in the foreign conflict.
Introducing the project, Okwara described the interview as one of the remarkable stories she had encountered during her journalism career. She observed that although reports about Kenyans travelling to Russia have circulated widely, survivors have had limited opportunities to explain their experiences publicly.
The issue has attracted attention from families seeking information about relatives who travelled abroad after reportedly receiving employment offers. Some Kenyans have alleged that they were promised attractive salaries and recruitment bonuses before discovering that the opportunities involved military service.
Vincent’s account is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding his recruitment, his experiences after arriving in Russia and how he eventually escaped. A promotional video shared by Okwara also showed the journalist meeting him before the interview.
The launch gives Okwara an independent platform to pursue interviews and human-interest stories outside traditional television broadcasting. Her first project has focused on an issue affecting Kenyan families and attracting public attention.
The new venture marks a fresh professional direction for the journalist, with her YouTube channel providing a direct way to share stories with audiences.