BREAKING: Robyn Kriel Leaves eNCA to Join CNN

eNCA's excellent Chief African Correspondent, Robyn Kriel, has left South Africa's most watched news channel to take up the position of East African Correspondent at CNN.

This follows about a month after she reported for CNN on the Kenyan university massacre. At the time she reported for CNN as part of CNN's affiliation agreement with eNCA.

Robyn Kriel holds degrees in broadcast journalism and musical theatre from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Her first job in broadcast journalism was at Texas station KWTX. In 2007 she moved back to her home country of Zimbabwe and did freelance reporting for networks like CNN, ABC in the US, BBC, and M-Net's Carte Blanche, among others.

 She moved to South Africa to join what was then called the eNews Channel (now eNCA) in June of 2008 and was a weekend, late night, holiday and fill in anchor. In 2010 Robyn attended Duke University as a Menell Fellow, representing eNCA. In August of 2011, she took up the position of East Africa Bureau Chief at the time the channel was expanding its coverage on African issues. In October last year when the Africa division was restructured, Robyn was given the title of Chief African correspondent, though still based in Kenya.

Below is a video from 2011 when US first lady Michell Obama paid tribute to her at the Young African Women Leaders Forum:


One could speculate that her jumping to CNN could have something to do with eNCA recently shutting down its African division, which has resulted in staff layoffs and the cancellation of the long running African news magazine show, Africa 360.

At CNN Kriel will continue to provide the excellent coverage of happenings in East Afican countries like Kenya, where the government is continuing to tackle the issue of militant group al-Shabaab, among other news.

A few of Robyn's now former colleagues and other personalities have taken to Twitter to congratulate her on the move. Here are some of them:
eNCA's Social Media Editor (and fill in anchor), Gareth Edwards tweeted:

I could not be prouder of my (now former) colleague @robynkrielCNN who has joined @cnni as a Correspondent. Talented beyond measure!!

— Gareth Edwards (@GarethEdwardsSA) May 1, 2015

Morning News Today anchor, Dan Moyane, tweeted:

All the best @robynkrielCNN. Will miss chatting to you regularly from Nairobi,

— Dan Moyane (@danmoyane) May 1, 2015

South African and Current CNN Anchor, Robyn Curnow tweeted:

You're going to be great. It's wonderful for CNN (and Africa) @robynkrielCNN: @ferialhaffajee @RobynCurnowCNN Big shoes to fill!”

— Robyn Curnow (@RobynCurnowCNN) May 1, 2015