Farewell Ndong!, Benard Ndong Leaves Citizen Tv After 13 Years Working At The Media Station

The news anchor received a cake and personal words from his coworkers in a festive sign-off on the evening of Saturday, June 25.

The anchor, who was on the verge of tears, said he was honored to have worked at Royal Media Services (RMS) with legends like Waihiga Mwaura and Mike Okinyi.

“It has been 13 years. It has been a journey. Thank you so much, I am humbled. 13 years have been a journey and a half. This is Bernard Ndong signing off for the final time,” stated Ndong

Through a call-in from Naivasha, his coworker Mike Okinyi praised Ndong as a dependable and motivated individual who had moved from his sales position at the same media company to the screen.

“Bernard, I know this one catches you by surprise. There was lunch by then there is this. It’s been a roller coaster with you on the desk from the first day that you came from sales and we went to the studio with Kirigo Ng’arua do a screen test and you asked, ‘can I join?’ and I said please come. It was three weeks of hard training.

“When I sent the clip to our then boss Farida Karoney, she had no doubt and said take Ndong for sports and the rest is history. You have developed to be one of the strongest people I have worked with. We wish you all the best,” reminisced Okinyi.

Mwaura, who started on the sports desk before moving to general news, said he had gotten to know Ndong on a personal level.

The two began working at RMS at the same time and encountered comparable challenges as they ascended the corporate ladder.

“To me, you are a brother. You know the journey that we started together 13 years ago. You remember a time we went out for this trip and there was no place to sleep. I remember I slept on the table and you on a chair and that is how our friendship built up from there. The Citizen spots desk will not be the same,” stated Waihiga.

Okinyi and Ndong were gracious enough to hold Mukami Wambora’s hand when she first joined. Mukami Wambora also works on the sports desk. She does not have journalism training, but she gives the pair credit for her knowledge.

 “I am not a trained journalist, I just have a passion for sports. I came in completely raw and Mike and Benard, you guys had to teach me how to script and edit from the very beginning and I have never felt so supported within a team.

“You’ve been such a cheerleader for me and you have played such a big role in my career and you are also such an amazing human being,” stated Wambora.

“Congratulations bro, you’ve done well. You are one of those guys that  I will miss in the new room. Where you are going, they are richer, we are a little poorer with your departure but we are also happy with your growth. Go in peace to serve the world and improve journalism,” added Francis Gachuri.

Earlier, RMS staff members gathered a luncheon to honor the anchor, including Swahili news anchor Lulu Hassan, her English counterpart Sam Gituku, and Swahili anchor Swaleh Mdoe.
Ndong did not, however, mention his upcoming task.

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