Zain Verjee was born on February 11, 1974, in Kenya. Raised in Nairobi, she later moved to Canada, where she pursued higher education. Verjee obtained an undergraduate degree in English literature from McGill University in Montreal. Fluent in multiple languages, including Kiswahili, Gujarati, and conversational French, Verjee's multicultural background has enriched her career in international journalism.

Broadcasting Beginnings in Kenya

Verjee launched her media career in Kenya, where she worked for the Kenya Television Network (KTN) as a news anchor. She also hosted The Third Opinion, a political talk show that offered in-depth insights into local political affairs. Prior to the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa, she contributed to several programs focusing on African perspectives. One of her earliest and most formative experiences in media was at Capital FM in Nairobi, where she worked as both a traffic reporter and a radio anchor.

CNN Career and International Reporting

Verjee joined CNN in 2000, launching a pivotal phase in her career. She served in various prominent roles at CNN International, including as a news presenter on The Situation Room and co-host on programs such as World Report, Your World Today, and World One, a daytime news program. Her versatile reporting covered a range of global events, from political summits to crises.

Among the major stories she covered were the Agra Summit between Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the war in Iraq. She also regularly reported for the CNN feature program Inside Africa, which focuses on business, culture, and current events across the African continent.