Veteran media figure Leonard Mambo Mbotela has passed away.
His daughter-in-law, Anne Mbotela, confirmed the news.
The esteemed journalist had been facing health challenges for some time and took his last breath around 9:30 am on Friday.
“It is true my father-in-law has passed on,” Anne shared with the Star.
Mbotela was married to Alice Mwikali, and together they raised three children: Aida, Jimmy, and George Mbotela.
He was well-known for his iconic radio and television show, Jee Huuu ni Ungwana, which aired on KBC radio and TV.
Launched in 1966, the program captivated audiences for nearly 55 years.
Before his time at KBC, he had brief stints with Kenya Weekly News and the East African Standard.
Born in 1940 in Freetown, Mombasa, Mbotela was the eldest of eight children to James and Aida Mbotela.
With over fifty years in journalism, a significant moment in his career was the 1982 coup attempt against then-President Daniel Moi.
During this tumultuous event, officers from the Kenya Air Force stormed Mbotela’s home in Ngara, capturing him and forcing him to announce the coup at the Voice of Kenya (VOK) studios.
Private Hezekiah Ochuka was present during this announcement.
However, the coup was ultimately unsuccessful, as the GSU and regular police, led by Major General Mahamoud Mohamed, intervened, prompting Mbotela to later announce that President Moi remained in power.
