Smriti Vidyarthi says bye to NTV after 16 years

TV anchor Smriti Vidyarthi / HANDOUT

Seasoned TV presenter Smriti Vidyarthi has left Nation Media Group after 16-and-a-half years of service on NTV prime time news programme.

Smriti hosted NTV Weekend Edition, NTV Tonight and NTV Wild Talk.

In a post on X, Smriti said Monday's 9pm bulletin would be her last.

She did not, however, say whether it was retirement or the beginning of a new chapter elsewhere.

“Sixteen-and-a-half years of service to the Nation Media Group and to the nation at large. Thank you for trusting me. For now, tune in tonight at 9pm for my last bulletin on NTV,” she wrote.

The media space has recently experienced musical chairs of anchors and journalists switching from one media house to the other.

Among is renowned radio and TV host Eric Latiff who joined the Nation Media Group after leaving the Standard Media Group.

Latiff announced his departure from the Mombasa Road-based media station after about a four-and-a-half-year stint at Spice FM.

Journalist Janet Mbugua also made a comeback to the screens when she joined NTV after about an eight-year break.

Her return was announced by the Group’s Head of Broadcasting Simaloi Dajom, who described Mbugua as someone highly skilled in engaging audiences.

Veteran journalist Ken Mijungu also announced his exit from KTN, where he had worked for four years.

Mijungu joined Cape Media Limited’s TV47.

Smriti started working at K24 as a news anchor in January 2008. In September the same year, she joined NTV.

At NTV, she anchored and hosted various programmess, including NTV This Morning, NTV Tonight, and the wildlife-focused show NTV Wild Talk, which airs weekly at 10pm.

Her work on NTV Wild Talk involves raising awareness about wildlife conservation and environmental issues for a better environment.

In 2013, Smriti won the Media Council's Annual Journalism Excellence Award in the Television and News Bulletin category, recognising her outstanding contributions to Kenyan media.