She was born in Nairobi on March 16, 1983. Yvonne went to All Saints Cathedral Primary School and later joined Kianda High School. After high school, she joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), where she studied Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, and Chemistry.
Although she trained as a scientist, Yvonne chose to follow her true passion – the media. Her journey started at just eight years old when she hosted children’s shows and did voiceovers at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
In 2008, she joined Nation Media Group as a radio producer at QFM and a voice-over artist for an NTV business show. Four years later, in 2012, she moved to Standard Media Group and signed a five-year contract with KTN. There, she grew into a senior role, leading news strategy in 11 countries.
In 2018, Yvonne joined Citizen TV. Today, she is one of Kenya’s top news anchors. She hosts News Night on Tuesdays and is part of the News Gang team on Thursdays. She is also the face of The Explainer. Over the years, she has moderated presidential debates and global forums with leaders like Melinda Gates and IMF boss Kristalina Georgieva.
Just yesterday, Yvonne made headlines with her hard-hitting interview with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on News Night, where she asked tough questions on governance, corruption, and the state of the economy — a moment that trended widely online for its boldness and depth.
Outside the newsroom, Yvonne chairs Enactus Kenya, supporting student entrepreneurs in 33 universities. She also sits on the boards of Africa Uncensored and ICRW Africa. Recently, she ran for President of the Kenya Editors’ Guild but lost gracefully, promising to keep fighting for media freedom.
Yvonne is married to Andrew Matole, a 56-year-old veterinary doctor. They met when Yvonne’s pet was sick. They tied the knot in December 2014 in a private wedding at Crown Plaza Nairobi.
Her advice to young journalists: Stay grounded, stay curious, and never stop asking questions.
