Legendary Broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela Passes Away at 85

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and the entire media fraternity is mourning the death of legendary broadcaster, Leonard Mambo Mbotela.

His son, Jimmy Mbotela, confirmed to KBC that Mambo died at 9.30 am today at the Nairobi South hospital where he was undergoing treatment. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. Burial arrangements are ongoing and more details will be shared in our subsequent bulletins.

Mambo is celebrated as Kenya's longest-serving broadcaster, having been on air for more than 60 years. He joined the Voice of Kenya (now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) in 1964, creating his signature program "Je Huu ni Ungwana?"  which continues to air on KBC radio to this day, making it the oldest in the industry.

In 1967, Mambo went to the British Broadcasting Corporation in London for one year of journalism training. He was the one who announced the 1982 attempted coup to overthrow the then-president, Daniel Arap Moi. Mambo is survived by his wife, Alice Mwikali, and three children: Aida, Jimmy, and George Mbotela.