Zain Verjee

Zain Verjee (born February 11, 1974) is a Kenyan-born Canadian journalist based in Nairobi and the Los Angeles area. She is a former CNN anchor and correspondent.

Education Verjee was born in Kenya and attended Hillcrest Prep School and Hillcrest Secondary School in Nairobi. She later received her undergraduate degree in English from McGill University in Montreal.

Career

Journalism Verjee started working as a radio DJ for 98.4 Capital FM. She became a news presenter on Kenya Television Network shortly afterward, as well as doing some work for the BBC.

In July 2006, she reported from the Korean DMZ, winning an award for the coverage. In September 2006, she interviewed the former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami on his first visit to Chicago.

While reporting on protests following Kenya's national elections in 2008, Verjee was hit by a tear gas canister shot by police.

In April 2014, Verjee announced she was leaving CNN after 14 years to create her own media production company. They have worked with Bloomberg Media, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Equity Group Foundation of Kenya, the World Health Organization, the MiSK Foundation, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on their public relations.

Her other ventures include Amplify, a content creator fellowship with participants from East/West Africa and the U.S., in partnership with MasterCard Foundation.