Olive Burrows Biography: Age, Religion, Education, Tribe, Net Worth

Olive Burrows is one of Kenya’s most respected and recognizable faces in journalism. Known for her calm delivery, sharp intellect, and graceful on-screen presence, she has built an impressive career spanning over 18 years in the Kenyan media industry.

From her early days as a freelance magazine writer to her current role as a senior news anchor at Citizen TV, Olive has consistently proven that quality journalism endures.

She shot to national and international fame in 2015 when she became the only Kenyan journalist to interview former United States President Barack Obama during his visit to Kenya, a milestone that defined her career and cemented her place in Kenyan media history.

Profile

Early Life

Olive Kalekye Burrows was born on October 16 in Nairobi West, Kenya, into a multicultural family. Her mother is from the Kamba community of Kenya, while her father has British and Tanzanian roots. Olive grew up primarily under the care of her mother, as her father left the family when she was still a child. This made her particularly close to her mother, and she has consistently credited her mother as one of her biggest inspirations.

Olive is an only child. Despite the financial difficulties the family occasionally faced, including a period when her mother lost her job during Olive’s high school years, her extended family stepped in to support her education. One of the most profound influences on her career choice was her late aunt, the veteran Kenyan journalist Rita Tinina, whose work in media left a deep impression on the young Olive and set her firmly on the path to journalism.

Growing up in Nairobi, Olive developed a love for reading and a curiosity about the world, qualities that would define her journalistic career. She is a Kenyan national with a deeply rooted identity shaped by her mixed heritage and her strong ties to Nairobi.

Education

Olive Burrows attended Malezi Primary School in Lang’ata, Nairobi. She then proceeded to the prestigious Kenya High School, one of Kenya’s top-performing girls’ secondary schools, where she maintained her academic focus despite facing financial hardships at home.

After completing high school, she enrolled at Daystar University, a private Christian institution in Nairobi renowned for its strong communication and media programs. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. While at Daystar, she was also a producer for Shine FM, the university’s student-run radio station, gaining hands-on broadcasting experience that proved invaluable in her professional life.

Career

Olive Burrows’ journalism career began while she was still in her second year at Daystar University, driven by a desire to earn money and support her mother. She started as an entertainment writer for various publications, including Destination Magazine, True Love Magazine, and EAM. From September to December 2007, she completed an internship at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where she gained firsthand experience in national broadcasting. From October 2007 to April 2009, she worked as a contributor at the Nation Media Group (NMG), building a strong professional network and sharpening her reporting skills.

She then joined Capital FM, one of Kenya’s leading radio stations, where she worked as a news reporter for approximately six years. The defining moment of her career came in 2015 when former U.S. President Barack Obama visited Kenya. Olive, then at Capital FM, was selected as the only Kenyan journalist to conduct an exclusive interview with Obama, a historic achievement that catapulted her to national fame. She has also interviewed UN Secretary-General António Guterres and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

In May 2018, Olive made a significant move to television, joining NTV (Nation Television) as a prime-time news anchor, replacing Victoria Rubadiri. She was paired with veteran journalist Dennis Okari to co-anchor the NTV Weekend Edition. Their on-screen chemistry became widely talked about, earning them the nickname “the most powerful media couple in Kenya,” though Olive firmly clarified that their relationship was purely professional.

In May 2024, she made another major career move, joining Citizen TV, one of Kenya’s most-watched stations. She currently anchors Citizen Weekend and the Sunday Live primetime show, often alongside the iconic Jeff Koinange. By 2026, she is firmly established as one of the most trusted and authoritative voices in Kenyan television journalism.

Social Media

Olive Burrows maintains a professional and engaging presence on social media. On Instagram, she uses the handle @oliveburrows, where she shares professional updates and engages with her audience. On X (formerly Twitter), she goes by @OBurrows. Her social media content reflects her professional life, love of literature, and thoughtful engagement with Kenyan society, while maintaining her characteristic separation between public and private life.

Personal Life

Olive Burrows is famously private about her personal life. As of 2026, she is unmarried and has no children, though she has spoken warmly about her love for her nephews and her close relationship with family. Over the years, persistent rumors have linked her romantically with former NTV co-anchor Dennis Okari, but she has repeatedly and firmly denied any romantic involvement, emphasizing the professional nature of their relationship.

Away from the cameras, Olive is a voracious reader. She cites Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Malcolm Gladwell, and Khaled Hosseini among her favorite authors, reflecting an intellectual curiosity that informs her journalism. She is also a skilled emcee, participating in high-profile corporate and media events beyond her broadcasting work.

Net Worth

Olive Burrows is among Kenya’s highest-earning media personalities. As a senior anchor at Citizen TV, her estimated monthly salary ranges between Ksh 600,000 and Ksh 1,000,000, inclusive of allowances and brand-related work. As of 2026, her estimated net worth is between Ksh 30 million and Ksh 50 million, accumulated through journalism, brand endorsements, emcee engagements at corporate events, and strategic investments. Her primary source of income remains her distinguished journalism career.

Conclusion

Olive Burrows is a shining example of what dedication, professionalism, and resilience can achieve.

From a young girl navigating financial hardship in Nairobi West to co-anchoring one of Kenya’s most-watched primetime news shows, her story is deeply inspiring.

Her landmark 2015 interview with President Barack Obama will forever stand as a defining moment in Kenyan media history.

As she continues to grow her career at Citizen TV, Olive Burrows remains a model of journalistic integrity and a role model for a new generation of African media professionals.